Research
Pineapple research in the Zululand area is as old as the industry. The first pineapple
research station was established in 1929 with a Mr. Johnson as research officer.
The fate of this station is not known. Numerous requests by the Growers Association
to the Department of Agricultural Technical Services for a permanent research site,
lead to the allocation of 252 ha of state land in 1987. This is up till today the
site of the present research station, which is a satellite station of the Institute
for Tropical and Subtropical Crops (ITSC) at Nelspruit; the ITSC being an institute
of the Agricultural Research Council. The official opening of the present research
station was in 1988.
Research over the past 20 years covered a wide range of topics and nearly all aspects
of Queen Pineapple cultivation were investigated. The following aspects were investigated:
Nutrition:
• Leaf norms and sampling techniques were established
• The effect of N, P, K, Mg, pH and Ca on yield and quality
• The effect of planting density and fertilizer requirements
• The effect of different fertilizer types as well as alternative
fertilizers
Planting:
• The effect of plant spacing, planting density, mulching, irrigation,
• Different types of planting material as well as the multiplication of
planting
material.
Nematode control:
• Determining the efficacy of pre- and post plant chemical control
as well as biological
control strategies.
• The effect of cultivation practices, pH and cover crops on
nematode populations
• The population dynamics of nematode species
Pests and Diseases
• Population studies of the different pineapples pests such as mealy
bug, pineapple
flat mite and leathery pocket mite
• Chemical control of these pests
• Sampling methods
• Control of black spot disease as well as the effect of environmental
factors and
possible vectors on the occurrence of the disease
Phenological disorders
• Studies were done on the occurrence of interfruitlet cracking and
winter speckle
(winter blotching)
Growth regulators
• The effect of fruit enlargers, flower inducing agents as well as the
inhibition
of natural flowering were investigated
Post harvest
• To increase the shelf life of the Queen pineapple was and is still a
priority.
Several techniques and treatments were investigated.
Current research
Current research concentrates on:
• the factors influencing the occurrence of winter speckle
• black spot control
• nematodes control
• evaluating new cultivars
• factors causing mortality of pineapple plants
• fertilizer programs
• inhibition of natural flowering
Other funcions
A diagnostic service is also rendered to the farmers where the nematode and pest
status of the plants are established. Analysis of leaf and soil samples is done
by the laboratory at the ITSC in Nelspruit.
The pineapple farmers can also take part in a block competition every year. The
aim of this competition is to create and evaluate new and innovative cultivation
techniques.
Officials
Research on the station is done by:
• Ms Elmarie Rabie - Researcher and Officer in charge
•
Ms Heila Tustin - Administration, farm management and
research assistance
•
Mr. Musa Mbatha – M.Sc Student
• 5 research/farm assistants.
Contact details
Postal address:
P.O.Box 194
Hluhluwe
3960
Me Rabie
Cell: 083 294 3345
Tel: 035 562 0352
Email: erabie@mtuba.co.za
Me Tustin
Tel: 035 562 0008
Fax: 035 562 0008
Email: proefplaas@mtuba.co.za
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