Performing Department
COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION
Non Technical Summary
In Micronesia, non-availability of disease-free and elite seedlings, shortage of trained agricultural professionals, and limited skills of farmers for commercial production have resulted in limited pineapple production.Therefore, this project is specifically designed to optimize micropropagation and nursery management systems to produce elite seedlings in bulk quantities, and provide appropriate recommendations and adequate opportunities to educate and train participants in commercial organic pineapple production.
Animal Health Component
80%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
80%
Developmental
10%
Goals / Objectives
The project aims to enhance organic pineapple production in Micronesia through micropropagation and commercial cultivation by providing elite and disease-free seedlings, appropriate recommendations for commercial, organic and climate resilient farming systems, and developing skills and improving knowledge of farmers.The objectives of this study are: 1) Collect pineapple germplasm of local and other cultivars and establish in vitro cultures of collected germplasm; 2) Refine micropropagation protocol for multiplication of collected pineapple germplasm; 3) Optimize acclimatization and nursery management systems to produce elite seedlings for commercial organic pineapple farming; 4) Design, implement and conduct research trials for commercial organic pineapple farming at multiple sites and collect data for analysis; and 5) Develop and publish commercial organic pineapple farming guide.
Project Methods
To accomplish the task of micropropagation of pineapple for commercial, organic and climate resilient farming systems in Micronesia successfully, the entire project plan, which comprises of five main objectives, is divided into three phases according to year wise time framing.In the first and second year of the project, the first three objectives will be taken up. Out of the remaining two objectives, work on the fourth objective will be carried out in the third and fourth year. And in the fifth year, the last objective will be completed. Records of all the information and research data collected, will be maintained in the computer and statistical analysis of the data will also be done. Photographic records of all the research activities and achievements will be maintained.Objective 1: On the basis of farm visits, observations, survey reports and recommendations of state governments and department of agriculture, superior germplasm of traditionally-preferred commercially important local pineapple cultivars (Ananas comosus cv. Kosraean, and Ananas comosus cv. Hawaiian) and other commercially-preferred pineapple cultivars will be collected. The germplasm will be procured as per the rules and regulations of the quarantine departments of the FSM and the RMI, and state and national government agencies.Objective 2: The pineapple germplasm collected in objective #1 will be used to establish in vitro cultures. Collected germplasm will be planted in sterile potting mix in greenhouse for getting initial explants. Prerequisite to establish aseptic pineapple cultures is disinfection of explants because contamination of the cultures is very high in humid island environment, which serves as highly favorable condition for growth, reproduction and multiplication of fungus and other pathogenic microorganisms. Suitable procedures for disinfection will be optimized by treating explants with various disinfectants such as commercial sodium hypochlorite bleach, mercuric chloride, hydrogen peroxide and ethyl alcohol, and detergents such as Tween 20.Experiments for optimization of media and other culture conditions (light intensity, photoperiod, temperature, humidity, nutrients, plant growth regulators etc.) for culture establishment will be carried out using various types of explants (shoot apical meristem and lateral buds). Protocols will be optimized for culture establishment and maintenance by manipulation of various plant growth regulators, media composition and culture conditions. Finally, cultures will be established for further in vitro experimentation under objective #3.Objective 3: The established cultures in objective #2 will be used to optimize micropropagation system to multiply pineapple plantlets on mass-scale. Micropropagated plantlets having well developed roots will be acclimatized. For acclimatization, the plantlets will be transferred into pots containing sterile potting mix to avoid contamination (would be treated with fungicide, if necessary) and will be kept in greenhouse for subsequent 8-10 weeks. Acclimatized plants will be transferred into polybags containing a mixture of soil, sand, and potting mix. Acclimatized pineapple plants in polybags will be kept at nursery until they are ready to transfer in the field for research trials.Acclimatization and nursery management systems will be optimized to accelerate the rate of elite and disease-free pineapple seedling production.Objective 4: A research study will be designed for commercial organic pineapple cultivation in local island conditions and implemented through conducting research trails at multiple pilot sites using randomized complete block design with 3-5 replications at each site. Records of all the information and research data collected will be maintained in the computer and statistical analysis of the data will be done. Photographic records of all the research activities and achievements will be maintained.Objective 5: The project team will develop, publish, and distribute a commercial organic pineapple cultivation guide specifically to suit the needs of local farmers based on results from objectives #1-4, and will ensure their delivery to farmers through direct distribution during training workshops, field days and demonstrations, and also through municipalities and state offices.