Studies on seed setting and pollen viability of two pineapple cultivars (Kew and Mauritius) in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The pineapple (Ananas comosus var. comosus) is a tropical fruit crop in the family Bromeliaceae. Commercially pineapple is propagated by vegetative material without new combinations of genes. Pineapple is self-incompatible and seeds are only produced if cross-pollination occurs among varieties. The use of sexual reproduction of pineapple is restricted to breeding purposes carried out for developing new hybrids. This study attempted to investigate the seed setting and pollen viability of Kew and Mauritius cultivars as a tool for the hybridization process in the pineapple breeding program at Fruit Research and Development Institute Horana. Results of cross-pollination between the two varieties indicated that the Mauritius variety produced 04 seeds per floret, whereas the Kew variety produced 03 seeds per floret. But the median seed setting per floret in the two varieties is not significantly different. Pollen viability for both cultivars was best around 9 a.m. which was evaluated from 9.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. using a 1% Acetocarmin test. It steadily decreases from morning to evening. Both the Kew and the Mauritius types are crossable, as well as Mauritius has greater seed setting and pollen viability than the Kew. By crossing the Kew and Mauritius cultivars in the morning, successive pollination and seed set can be achieved.