Pineapple cultivation reached its splendor in Ciego de Ávila in 1991, when the province achieved the highest production by exceeding 30,200 tons harvested. After that date the sowing of the fruit fell into decline and the allusion to the Avilanian demarcation as “Land of the Pineapple” remained in the popular imagination; but not in palpable reality.
However, the dream of rescuing the pineapple tradition makes researchers of the Bioplants Center of the Máximo Gómez Báez University and workers of the UEB Pineapple Production of the Ceballos Agroindustrial Company join in the search for new genotypes more resistant to climatic conditions, to the effects of pests and with better qualities for export in order to achieve a productive chain between the center scientist, the producing entity and the industry. This is how the Territorial Project “Pineapple Diversification” tries to add to the already well-known Spanish Red variety, others such as MD-2, Pérola, Cayena Lisa and Champaka.
According to Romelio Rodríguez Sánchez, Technology and Innovation specialist at UEB Pineapple Production, the multiplication rate of the 105 thousand vitroplants that are in the research phase in the field is high (at a rate of seven children for each seedling in the case de la Champaka) and it has been shown that they are more productive and provide a higher level of juice.
“Currently only the MD-2 is exported due to its recognized characteristics and international acceptance. But we want to stimulate pineapple production in the country with varieties that adapt to the tastes of the producers; at the same time that they can be used for export, national consumption, tourism and can substitute imports ”, added Rodríguez Sánchez.
See: Research in Ciego de Ávila contributes to pineapple diversification
The collaboration between the Bioplant Center and the Ceballos Agroindustrial Company has allowed for more than five years to advance in obtaining fertilization packages for MD-2 pineapple, achieving a 30% reduction in the use of conventional fertilizers. Positive result for this exportable item in which the reduction of sunburn in the months of May to November is also studied; because in this variety around 30% was lost for this reason.
Today, from the application of Mantas de Sarán Negro technology, erosion has been reduced by 5%. Method that also maintains the homogeneous temperature and encourages a constant and even growth of the pineapple.
Some forecasts predict that in a five to eight year margin the results of the pineapple diversification project will be seen in the province and the country.
In this sense, other actions are carried out by the Center for Bioplants such as the evaluation of natural products to reduce the toxic load in MD-2 and the substitution of biostimulants; the study of molecular techniques to validate genotypes; research on transgenic plants; and the introduction of pineapple vitro plants in the Sabaneta biographic plant in Guantánamo.
Regarding the work of the UEB Pineapple Production, the study of the harvest and post-harvest management of the fruit to achieve productive chains stands out.
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