Organic Pineapple Working Group

[Organic Pineapple Working Group <opwg AT lists.ibiblio.org>]

My eminent friend Duane  Bartholomew asked for responses to the issue presented below but didn't post it to the OPWG list.

I am forwarding his compilation of the responses in order to determine whether the incidence of stem splitting is equally, less or more common in pineapple under organic production and determine whether the experience of opwg members confirms that of those presented below, regarding the medial measures mentioned.

Also, additional relevant topics can be discussed, as well.

Here in Mexico pineapple season is at a low ebb at present.

Douglas Hinds

OPWG List-owner & Moderator


-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Stem Splitting
Date:	Sat, 09 Nov 2013 17:26:15 -1000
From:	Duane Bartholomew <duaneb AT HAWAII.EDU>
To:	Pine Work Group <PINE-WORK-GROUP AT LISTS.HAWAII.EDU>

 Dear Colleagues:

There was a marvelous response from the pineapple community/family to my query about stem splitting. I have summarized the most relevant responses below and wish to thank all who replied for their interest and kind assistance. You will see that there is considerable experience with the problem. I will let the contributors speak for themselves but will protect their identities since I don't have permission to use their names.

From G.J., Antigua.

We are still growing tropical fruits including our beloved Antigua Black pineapple, a queen type. Interesting you mentioned the cracked stalk phenomenon. From time to time our pineapple has cracked stalk approaching 5% of the crop. However, the following bimonthly FIT treatment may show no sign of cracked stalk. It has puzzled us for years, but this is what we've discovered/speculated so far.

It occurs during rapid elongation of the peduncle (red heart to flowering), My literature research mentioned it in association with ANA induction; however, we only use Ethephon, and have even seen it in naturally induced fruit. We feel it is brought about by some environmental factor, most probably high rainfall during peduncle elongation. We see it during summer and winter, so I don't know if temperature or diurnal variation may be a factor. It always results in misshapen and smaller fruit. Notably, we have seen little in recent years. A major improvement we've made is using an irrigation balance sheet to reduce the soil moisture variation. Perhaps plants exposed to dry conditions then watered heavily 5-6 weeks after induction could be a factor. I have suspected high N levels may be to blame as well.

From S-J. C., Taiwan

 Peduncle cracking is common especially in cultivar ‘Tainon 17’, a major pineapple cultivar in Taiwan. The disorder frequently occurs in pineapple fields with excessive nitrogen fertilization before forcing. Plants with dark green leaves before forcing are especially prone to peduncle cracking.  Growers in Taiwan have been advised to stop N application 1.5 months before forcing and keep leaves slightly yellowish green can efficiently reduce the disorder. B application during forcing can also help reduce the symptom.   There are some environment factors before bloom, such as extreme day/night temperature shift, continuous raining condition etc. may also induce fruit cracking.

J.A.C.C., Columbia

Observed this similar symptom in Smooth Cayenne plants in the Far East Colombian Plains (Llanos Orientales) COLOMBIA. The symptoms were exactly at the middle of the peduncle where their is a node. I did considere then, with my experience and expertise, that could be a sligtly deficiency of Potash and/or Calcium. Further aplications of both nutrients in the leaves intersections to stem, very low near the soil or roots, avoid future problems in the fields planted, harvesting 2,5 kilo fruits. The soils for this areas are very poor with high deficiency in all nutrients and very low [pH] < 5.0 and high aluminium.

C.S., Queensland

This is quite common in Queensland. Both Smooth Leaf Cayenne and Rough Leaf (Queen) can be affected. To date, haven't seen it in the hybrids. Don't know what causes it but it seems to be related to high humidity and rapid growth flushes.

A.D., Netherlands. (For readers information, I have attached the pages referred to below; unfortunately the book is out of print.)

The Australians have some.  “Pineapple pests and disorders”, ISBN 0724239456, Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, page 44 and plate 88. But not conclusive.

F.V., Philippines

We observed the same symptom on same variety i would guess, but still not solved. In our case even the fruit is cracking severely  most of the time. It is varietal and maybe nutritional. I suspect Boron and/or Ca deficiency.

Thanks too to those who had no personal experience but put forth hypotheses that replicated the assumptions/conclusions of those above who had personal experience with the disorder. I suspect that one reason the problem has not been solved is because incidence is sporadic and unpredictable and if you can't reproduce the symptoms at will, it is almost impossible to develop treatments.

Many thanks again to all who contributed to the discussion.

Best regards,
Duane

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Duane P. Bartholomew, PhD Emeritus Professor Dept. Tropical Plant & Soil Science Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa 3190 Maile Way Honolulu, HI 96822 Find Pineapple News at http://www.ishs.org/pineapple

Attachment: Pineapple Pests and Disorders -44-45.pdf
Description: Adobe PDF document