Effect of plant growth regulators on induction of flowering and yield of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) cv. queen under Konkan agro-climatic condition

Field experiment entitled 'Effect of plant growth regulators on induction of flowering and yield of pineapple cv. Queen' was carried out at College of Horticulture, Dr. Balashaeb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Dist. Ratnagiri during the year 2023-2024 to find out the different levels of plant growth regulators on early flowering and yield of pineapple. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with nine treatments viz., T₁: application of NAA 100 ppm, T₂: NAA 200 ppm, T₃: ethrel 50 ppm, T₄: ethrel 100 ppm, T₅: GA₃ 50 ppm, T₆: GA₃100 ppm, T₇: PBZ 500 ppm, T₈: PBZ 1000 ppm, T₉: Control (without application of PGRs) which were replicated three times. Results revealed that the application of PBZ 500 ppm (T₇) was significantly effective for early flowering (26.0 days), minimum days for flowering completion (32.67 days), fruit yield (56.53 kg/plot), fruit yield (35.88 t/ha), maximum crown weight (82.28 g) and fruit weight with crown (807.60 g) over the other treatments. Application of NAA 100 ppm) (T₁) and ethrel 50 ppm (T₃) were at par with PBZ 500 ppm (T₇). Similarly, the ethrel 50 ppm (T₃) recorded the highest flowering percentage (95%) and was at par with the PBZ 500 ppm (T₇). Thus PBZ 500 ppm, NAA 100 ppm and ethrel 50 ppm were the promising treatments for induction of flowering, fruit weight and fruit yield. Considering the cost of production, the ethrel 50 ppm (T₃) was maximum B:C ratio of 1.88 owing to the lower cost of ethrel in the market as compared to NAA and PBZ. Thus, it can be concluded that for synchronized and early flowering and more yield with high B:C ratio, the pineapple plants should be treated with ethrel 50 ppm at 27-30 leaves stage.