Inflorescence Development of Pineapple (Ananas comosus [L.] Merr.) Induced to Flower with Ethephon

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Abstract
The morphology and rate of inflorescence development of A. comosus induced to flower with ethephon were studied in field-grown plants ''Smooth Cayenne''. Flower bract development was evident on day 7 after application of ethephon to the center of the plant. Flower primordia were 1st observed in the axils of bracts 11 days after ethephon application, and sepal and petal primordia could be clearly distinguished by 22 days after treatment. Initiation of flower primordium ceased by day 34 after treatment. Differentiation of flower bract epidermis, indicated by the development of multicellular trichomes and stomata, began at the tip of bracts about 18 days after treatment; trichome and stomata development on sepal epidermis began about 1 wk later. Reversion of the apex from the production of floral bract primordia to the production of typical vegetative leaf primordia was quite slow. On day 47, 13 days after the last flower primordium had been initiated, typical vegetative leaf primordia still were not being formed.