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Essay on Pineapple
Essay Contents:
- Essay on the Origin and History of Pineapple
- Essay on the Area and Production of Pineapple
- Essay on the Importance and Uses of Pineapple
- Essay on the Availability of Pineapple
- Essay on the Insect-Pests of Pineapple
- Essay on the Diseases of Pineapple
- Essay on the Disorders of Pineapple
Essay # 1. Origin and History of Pineapple:
Pineapple is believed to have originated in Brazil. It has spread to other tropical parts of the world from Brazil. The generic name Ananas is derived from the Indian ‘nana’. The wild Brazilian pineapple (Ananas microstachys Lindle ) is considered to be its ancestor.
Pineapple had spread to the other parts of tropical America by the time of Columbus, who took it to Europe. In 1548, it reached India. The important pineapple countries of the world are Thailand, Brazil, Costa Rica, Philippines, China, Indonesia, India, Nigeria, Mexico and Viet-Nam.
The pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr) is one of the most important commercial fruits of the world. It is considered the popular fruit of tropical climate.
Essay #
2. Area and Production of Pineapple:
The area under pineapple in the world is 9.3 lakh hectares with total production of 21.7 million metric tonnes. Thailand, Brazil, Costa Rica and Philippines are the leading pineapple producing countries with a share of 12, 10.7, 10.5 and 10.4 per cent, respectively of the total world production.
In India, pineapple is grown on 1.02 lakh hectares with annual production of 15 lakh metric tonnes. There has been phenomenal increase in production and productivity due to adoption of improved production technologies especially in Karnataka, West Bengal and Kerala.
At present, the total area under pineapple is only 1.5 per cent of total area under fruits and the production is 2 per cent of total fruit production in India. The productivity of pineapple is low in North Eastern states which are 6-8 tonnes per hectare owing to traditional methods of cultivation against 58 tonnes per hectare in Karnataka.
In India, pineapple is cultivated commercially in West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, Karnataka, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh. The average productivity of pineapple is observed highest in Karnataka (58 mt/ha) and West Bengal (30.7 mt/ha). Normally, area under pineapple cultivation is confined to high rainfall and humid coastal regions in the peninsular India and to the hilly areas of North Eastern region of the country. Of late, it has been shown that pineapple can also be grown commercially in the interior plains with medium rainfall and supplementary protective irrigations.
Export Potential:
Pineapple fruits are exported Maldives, Nepal, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Italy. India his exported 3031 mt pineapple fruits during 2011-12 and earned Rs. 6 crores. Maldives, Nepal, UAE and Qatar are the major countries where pineapple is exported.
Essay # 3. Importance and Uses of Pineapple:
Pineapple is a good source of vitamin A and B and fairly rich in vitamin C and minerals like calcium, phosphorus and iron. It is also a source of bromelain, a protein digesting enzyme. A pineapple fruit contains moisture 85.0 per cent, sugar 13 per cent, protein 0.7 per cent, mineral matter 0.05 per cent, fibre 0.3 per cent, calcium 0.04 per cent, phosphorus 0.011 per cent, iron 0.09 per cent, vitamin A 60 I.U., vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 120 mg/100 g and vitamin C 63 mg/100 g of fruit.
The fresh fruit of pineapple is used as dessert fruit in the form of slices. The fruit is used for juice, squash, jam, mixed jam and in canned form. Fruit core is used for preparing candy. Pineapple leaf is a good source of chlorophyll. Leaves yield silky fibre which is used for making a fine fabric popularly known as pina cloth in Philippines and Taiwan. These are also used for Cordage. The other products like oxalic acid, gum and pineapple flavour are also obtained. Pineapple fruit can also be used for making vinegar, citric acid, calcium citrate and alcohol.
Essay # 4. Availability of Pineapple throughout the Year:
It is possible to spread the harvesting of fruit throughout the year using following techniques:
(i) By using different planting materials.
(ii) By planting suckers and slips at regular intervals from July to December.
(iii) By applying flower inducing chemicals like ethephon @ 0.25 ml/litre or NAA @ 20 mg/litre.
Studies conducted in West Bengal regarding the harvesting of fruit throughout the year revealed that slips of the pineapple should be planted from July to November.
Ethrel @ 0.25 ml/litre or NAA @ 20 mg/litre be applied between 365 and 415 days after planting. Ethrel solution should be applied at the core of the plant between 7-8 PM in the evening. Application of ethephon at an interval of 7 days from April to November can ensure a steady harvest of fruits almost throughout the year. Fruits from NAA treatment are heavier whereas ethephon induce better quality. NAA causes much delay in fruit maturity. For obtaining a good yield, the plants must have at least 45 to 50 leaves for flowering.
Essay # 5. Insect-Pests of Pineapple:
i. Mealy Bug (Pseudococcus Brevipes):
The wilting of pineapple is caused either due to toxic secretions of the insects or due to the virus introduced into the plant by the feeding of pest. At first instance, the roots cease to grow, and then follow collapse and rotting of the tissue. The wilting of leaves is the prominent symptoms and develops reddish yellow colour.
For its control, collect the plant material from healthy plantation. The basal portion of slips and sucker should be dipped in 0.04% methyl parathion or malathion solution. Application of phorate granules 1.75 kg a.i/ha at 100 days after planting is effective to control the pest.
ii. Pineapple Thrips (Thrips Tabaci):
Damage is done by adults as well as by nymphs to flowers and leaves. Spray 625 ml of malathion 50 EC in 250 litres of water per ha as soon as the pest appears.
iii. Root-Knot Nematode (Meloidogyne Spp, Pratylenchns Spp, Rotylenchus Spp):
Several nematodes cause large scale damage in pineapple plantations. They attack the roots causing root-knots and lesions or penetrate partially into the roots. The attack is common in light soils. Nematodes can be controlled by fumigation of soil with ethylene dibromide 15 at 250 – 350 litres per hectare or EDB at 100 kg/ha before planting.
Essay # 6. Diseases of Pineapple:
1. Heart Rot and Stem Rot:
The disease is caused by fungus Phytophthora parasitica and Phytophthora cinnamomi.
Poor physical condition of the soil and inadequate drainage are responsible for the spread of this disease. Infected plants loose their turgidity. Leaves start twisting; withering of central leaves and result into their discolouration. The central whorl of leaves when affected will come out with a gentle pull. The fungus can survive in soil.
Select healthy planting material and handle it carefully. Proper drainage of water is essential. Prior to planting, treat the planting material with 4:4:50 Bordeaux mixture. Affected plantation should be sprayed with Captan or difolatan 0.1 per cent.
2. Soft Rot, Storage Rot and Fruit Rot:
These are caused by fungus Ceratostomella paradoxa. Fruit rot is not seen usually in the field and generally appears in storage and transit. Fruit shows water-soaked lesions which turn yellowish and dark. The affected tissues rot. The stem- end rot and soft rot are also noticed. The fungus invades through wounds or cut-ends and spreads inter and intracellularly.
Collect the affected plants and destroy them. It is advisable to collect the suckers from disease free area for planting. Before planting, dip suckers in 2:2:250 Bordeaux mixture solution. The cut end of the fruit stalk should be dipped in 10 per cent solution of benzoic acid dissolved in alcohol. Expose the fruits for 2 hours to the sun during harvesting. Dipping the fruits for 5 minutes in Thiabendazole 100 ppm minimise rotting.
3. Leaf Spot:
The disease is also caused due to Phytophthora sp. It occurs under moist warm climate. Small water soaked areas develop on the leaves and these gradually enlarge with straw coloured halo and the affected portions gradually dry. The disease can be kept under control by spraying Manozeb/Ziram 200 gm 100 litres of water.
Essay # 7. Disorders of Pineapple:
1. Sunscald:
Sunscald is caused due to direct fall of sunrays on exposed area of the fruits and results in damage to fruits. The cells under the skin of exposed surface get damaged. Later shell surface assumes a brownish to black colour and cracks may appear between fruitlets. Affected fruits rot and get easily infested with pests. To control lodging or leaning, special care should be given. The fruits should be covered with dry straw or banana leaves or with own leaves during the month of April-May. Intensity of sunscald is reduced in high density planting.
2. Multiple Crown:
Multiple crown may occur due to genetical factors as well as due to soil and environmental reasons which result in impairment in normal growth and development of fruits during ontogeny. Such fruits also taste insipid and are more corky. In fertile virgin soil of warm areas, more abnormal fruits occur as compared to less fertile soil.