IRRIGATION INTERVALS IN THE PRODUCTION OF ORNAMENTAL PINEAPPLE IN POTS1

ABSTRACT Information on irrigation management is essential in a production system for the commercial cultivation of ornamental pineapple in pots. As such, this work evaluated the effects of irrigation interval on the growth and production of the crop in pots. The experiment was carried out from 16/07/2015 to 21/05/2016 in a greenhouse located in Fortaleza, in the state of Ceará, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomised, with five treatments, four replications and four plants per plot. The treatments consisted of irrigation intervals of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 days. The plants were grown in one-litre pots, fertilised with slow release fertiliser and subjected to supplementary drip irrigation. The following variables were analysed at the end of the cycle (402 days): number of leaves; length and width of the 'D' leaf; diameter of the rosette; plant height; rate of flowering; length and diameter of the peduncle, syncarp and crown; crown to syncarp ratio; and percentage of commercial plants. The irrigation interval influenced the number of leaves, length of the 'D' leaf, diameter of the rosette, plant height, rate of flowering and percentage of commercial plants. Irrigating every two days resulted in water savings, increased leaf growth and a high rate of flowering, and the greatest percentage of commercial plants. Irrigating at intervals of between four and 10 days, increased water wastage, and reduced leaf growth, the rate of flowering and the percentage of commercial plants. The shortest irrigation interval is therefore the most recommended for cultivation in pots.

Post-fire flowering and fruiting in Vellozia sincorana, a caulescent rosette plant endemic to Northeast Brazil

Vellozia sincorana L.B. Sm. & Ayensu, an endemic of campos rupestres, is an endangered species collected by local people to start cooking fires due to the flammability of its resinous stems. A massive flowering of V. sincorana following a wildfire in October 1999 raised some questions: Does fire affect flowering and fruiting of V. sincorana? Is the height of individuals correlated with flowering and fruit production? A wildfire event on 8 November 2008 provided an opportunity to explore these questions. Two populations of V. sincorana in two campos rupestres sites (12º31'S - 41º29'W; 12º36'S - 41º28'W) on ridgetops in the Chapada Diamantina National Park (Brazil) were monitored, one burned in the November 2008 fire and the other unburned since the 1999 fire. In both sites, 25 individuals were randomly labeled and monitored. Nine plant samplings were conducted between 2008 and 2010, during which the number of flowers and fruits were tallied and the heights measured. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and linear regression were used to evaluate the relationship between the height of individuals and phenology. Flowering and fruiting occurred only in the recently burnt population, about 40 days after the fire, in 24 of the 25 individuals monitored (96%). The quantity of flower and/or fruit was positively and significantly correlated with plant height. The abundant flowering after fire suggests that fire triggers this phenological phase. Estimates of age of the taller individuals and the periods of flowering can be used to estimate fire frequency in the V. sincorana population sites, which contributes to the knowledge of fire ecology and is useful for conservation biology and fire management of campos rupestres.