Question

What is ideal weight of suckers for pineapple planting ?

• A. 300 g
• B. 500 g
• C. 800 g
• D. 1000 g

Hint:

Pineapple Propagules Weight & Bearing Time: - Suckers: $450--500\text{ g}$ ($15--18$ months to harvest) -- BEST. - Slips: $300--400\text{ g}$ ($18--20$ months). - Crowns: $200--250\text{ g}$ ($22--24$ months).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for the optimal planting weight (in grams) of suckers used for vegetative propagation of pineapple (As comosus).

Step 2: Propagules used in Pineapple Propagation:

• Suckers: Shoots arising from axillary buds on the stem below ground level. Preferred propagule due to early fruiting ($15--18$ months).
• Slips: Shoots arising on the peduncle below the fruit base ($300--400\text{ g}$).
• Crowns: Leafy tops on fruit ($200--250\text{ g}$). Take $22--24$ months to bear fruit.

Step 3: Detailed Explation:

• Standard propagation practices require grading suckers by weight to achieve uniform flowering and synchronized harvesting.
• Suckers weighing $450--500\text{ g}$ (ideally around $500\text{ g}$) produce high-yielding plants with uniform fruit size.
• Light suckers ($<300\text{ g}$) exhibit slow field establishment, delayed flowering, and yield small unmarketable fruits.
• Oversized suckers ($>800\text{ g}$) lead to pre-mature flowering, producing smaller individual heads.

Step 4: Fil Answer:
The ideal weight of suckers for planting pineapple is $500\text{ g}$. Thus, option (B) is the correct choice.