Abstract:
Information on genetic variabilities, heritabilities and correlations between
quantitative characters and yield are important parameters for supporting selection
programs. The objectives of this research were to estimate these factors on several
accessions of pineapples. Field experiments were conducted at the Pasir Kuda
Experiment Station, from October 2004 to November 2006 with a completely randomized block design, comprising 26 treatments (accessions) and two replications. The
results demonstrated that number of leaves, length of leaf, number of hapas, days to
flowering, days to harvesting, peduncle diameter, fruit length, fruit diameter, number
of spirals, flesh thickness, total acid, and vitamin C concentration had wide genotypic
and phenotypic variabilities and high heritabilities. Plant height, width of leaf, days to
harvesting, peduncle diameter, fruit length, number of spiral, fruit diameter, flesh
thickness, core diameter, and vitamin C were positively and significantly correlated
with fruit weight. Plant height, canopy diameter, number of spirals, fruit diameter,
flesh thickness, core diameter, and total acid had positive direct effects on fruit weight.
The indirect effects on fruit weight via fruit diameter was shown by the number of
spirals and flesh thickness; via number of spiral showed by fruit diameter and core
diameter; via flesh thickness shown by number of spirals, fruit diameter and core
diameter shown by fruit diameter, flesh thickness, and core diameter. The number of
spiral and flesh thickness should be used as selection criteria for fruit weight
improvement
