The knowledge of climate effects is important in planning pineapple production. The aim of this research was to accomplish the thermal time requirements of 'Smooth Cayenne' pineapple from the floral induction to the harvest period for different periods of artificial floral induction at Northern State of Paraná and also its influence in yield and fruit quality. The treatments were floral induction with ethephon in April, May, June and July. The control had natural induction. The inflorescence arose at 115.5; 107.3; 77.3 and 48.3 days after the floral induction for the applications in April, May, June, and July, respectively. The period between inflorescence arisen and harvest was 163 days for April induction, which was higher than for the other treatments (144 - 151 days). The fruits from the April treatment were smaller than the fruits from July. Period of floral induction had no effect on titratable acidity, total soluble solids and ratio of the fruits. The thermal time requirement from the flowering to the harvest period was 1,090 degree-days, with no statistical difference among treatments.
Ananas comosus; gree-days; ethephon; brix
