TITLE:
Comparative Performance of Three Methods for Producing Suckers of Smooth Cayenne Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) in the Municipality of Zè, Southern Benin
AUTHORS:
Codjo Gaston Ouikoun, Dètondji Arsène Didier Houssa, Kotchikpa Justin Ekpo, Florent Yalinkpon, Codjo Emile Agbangba, Daniel Chougourou
KEYWORDS:
Ananas comosus, Vegetative Propagation, Castration, Gouging, Macropropagation, Fruit Uniformity
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.16 No.12,
December
11,
2025
ABSTRACT: Fruit heterogeneity in pineapple production limits access to export markets for Beninese producers. This study compared three methods for producing Smooth Cayenne pineapple suckers: apical meristem destruction (gouging), castration following Flowering Induction Treatment (FIT), and macropropagation. A dispersed block design with six replications of 30 plants per method was implemented in the Municipality of Zè, Southern Benin. Data were analyzed using mixed-effects linear models and Poisson generalized linear models with R software version 4.3.0. Results demonstrated that castration achieved a 100% success rate, compared to 90% for gouging and 60% for macropropagation. Castration produced significantly more suckers per plant (3 ± 1) and yielded both observed sucker types (aerial slips and hapas). Suckers from castration and gouging exhibited superior morphological characteristics, with greater heights (aerial slips: 34.15 ± 2.2 cm and 35.3 ± 1.5 cm respectively; hapas: 24.5 ± 3.8 cm and 25.01 ± 2.1 cm) and larger basal circumferences (aerial slips: 12.54 ± 1.01 cm and 11.9 ± 1.5 cm; hapas: 9.1 ± 1.6 cm and 8.3 ± 1.4 cm) than those from macropropagation. Regarding weight, suckers from castration (449.01 ± 13.78 g) and gouging (450.14 ± 34.34 g) were comparable and heavier than those from macropropagation (434.47 ± 7.17 g). Castration following FIT therefore represents the optimal method for producing homogeneous, vigorous, and high-quality suckers that meet export market requirements.