A STUDY ON IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF PINEAPPLE (Ananas comosus L. MERR.)

In several trails for surface sterilization by immersing the explants in
Noacl (1 .5.10.15 %) + (1.0 %) Hg CI2 for 10.20.30 minutes. the least
contaminated explants were obtained by immersing the explants in NaOcl
(15%) + (1.0%) HgCI2 for 30 minutes.During the establishment stage after 3
weeks the explants were cultured on liquid and solid MS media. full and half
strength supplemented with SAP at 0 . 1 ,2 • 3 mg/L and ISA at 0 . 0.5 , 1.0
mglL for other 6 weeks. The best multiplication media was full strength liquid
MS media supplemented with 1 mglL BAP + 1 mg/L IBA .In rooting stage.
shootlet were cultured on media containing 0.5 x strength MS salts. 3 mg/L
activated charcoal and combinations of ISA at (0 . 0.2 • 0.5 , 1.0 . 2.0 mglL)
and NAA at (0 • 0.2 , 0.5 , 1.0 mglL) • the rooted shootlets were obtained by
culturing on MS media supplemented with 1 mg/L NAA + 0.5 mg/L ISA . At
hardening stage of 3 months duration by using mixture of peatmoos : sand •
the mixture of 3 peatmoss : 1 sand gave the highest percentage of survivals
and leaf number.
The acclimatization lasted for 6 months then fertilization experiments
on 12m onths old explants were carried out using a mixture of ammonium
sulphate (20%) . super phosphate (15% ) and potassium sulphate (48%) in
ten treatments as follows: 2:1:2 . 5:1:5 . 6:1:6 , 2:1.5:2 . 5:1.5:5,6:1.5:6.
2:2:2.5:2:5.7:2:7 and 7:1:7 these mixtures were applied to each pots in four
doses (0.5 . 1.0 • 1.5 • 2.0 gm) every week during the six months. the highest
values of survival percentage. plant length. stem length • stem thickness.
number of leaves and leaves area were obtained at ratio of 5:1.5:5 and 7:2:7
using a dose of 1 gm I plant every week.