Aiming to determine the influence of calcium carbide in the floral differentiation of the pineapple, cv. SNG-3, in the conditions of Rio Branco, AC, Brazil, an experiment was carried out in the period of 05/1999 to 12/2000, using seedlings selected by weight (250-300 g), planted on May 12, 1999. The experimental design was a complete randomized block in factorial, with the factors induction ages (eighth, tenth and twelfth month after the planting) and the application time morning (07:30 h ± 20') and in the afternoon (15:30 h ± 20'), besides natural induction. The induction was done using calcium carbide stones, weighting 0.8 g/plant in a single application. The calcium carbide stimulated flowering of the pineapple cv. SNG-3, with better efficiency when accomplished after the ten moths of the planting, advancing the crop in 100 days. The later floral induction dates, 10 and 12 months of age, favored the production of heavier fruits, less acids and with higher content of total soluble solids, with cycles of 475 days and 558 days, respectively. The application in the morning of the calcium carbide influenced the height and the flowering of the plants, without altering the quality (weight, acidity and content of total soluble solids) of the fruits of pineapple cv. SNG-3.
Ananas comosus; application time; fruit weight; soluble solids
