Temperatures, basis for a heat-unit model of vegetative growth

In intensive pineapple production, cultural practices schedules are well established and adapted to the plant needs. But when cultivated away from the humid tropics or equatorial conditions, the pineapple growth rate decreases and the growing cycles get longer. In Reunion Island, at 750 m above the sea level, forcing of 'Queen' pineapple is usually done at 11 or 12 months after planting, instead of 6 months under tropical conditions at sea level, impacting strongly the schedule of cultural practices. Furthermore, there is inadequate information on agronomic requirements for cultivation under new environments or new cultivars. The aim of this study was to confirm that it is possible to design a simple growth model for pineapple where plant weight is a function of temperature by observing pineapples in very different growing conditions in Reunion Island. With such information it would be possible to stimulate plant growth and to propose schedules for fertilizer applications for the various climate environments. (Résumé d'auteur