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The history of Europeans familiarizing with pineapples begins in 1493, when previously unknown juicy fruits landed in the islands in Central America. A little later, the candied flesh and the pineapples themselves were sent to the Old World, where the sweet-sour taste of a strange delicacy was enjoyed by the crowned persons and nobles.
Within a few decades, pineapples were brought to the Asian and African colonies, where the local climate was very suitable tropical plants. At the same time, cultivation was established in South and Central America, as well as in European greenhouses and greenhouses.
Obviously, the desire to get more sweet, large and juicy fruits existed in those times. Therefore, the ancestors of modern varieties of pineapples appeared already in the XVIII century, and at the beginning of the XX century, work on the selection of tropical fruits went at full speed. This was facilitated by the creation of large companies engaged in the cultivation and processing of pineapples. The research center has become a specialized pineapple research institute located in Hawaii. A planting plant spread to the southern US states, including Florida.
Since then, the cultivated pineapples have changed dramatically, as not only has the weight of individual fruits increased, but also people have learned how to get fruits containing less acids and more sugars. But at the same time, all the varieties of pineapple grown on plantations in Costa Rica, the Philippines, Ghana, USA, Vietnam or Australia are plants belonging to the genus Ananas comosus var.comosus
Ananas comosus var.comosus
Like other varieties, the pineapple is a pea-cholelolaceous perennial herb from the bromeliad family, and the fruit so loved by many is a juicy stem that, depending on the type and variety, can have a different shape, size and weight. If the fruits of the Giant Kew variety ripen fruits weighing up to 10 kg, then mini pineapples bred in southeast Asia have almost no hard core, but weigh no more than 500 grams.
The international trade classification is based on the existence of several large groups of pineapple varieties. These are "Smooth Cayenne", "Spanish", "Queen", "Abacaxi" and "Pernambuco".Since the selection work is constantly, in addition to these classes, there are other varieties and varieties.
Smooth Cayenne Pineapple Variety Group
The first, most extensive Smooth Cayenne group is mostly plants grown in Hawaii and Honduras. Also, exotic pineapple fruits with characteristic signs of belonging to this variety group can be found in the Philippines and Cuba, on the plantations of South Africa and in Mexico. Plants Smooth Cayenne have a short stalk, on which, gradually turning yellow from the bottom to the rosette, fruits weighing from 1.5 to 3 kg mature. Pineapple pulp is dense, light yellow, with a high content of both acids and sugars, which gives the taste of the fruit some sharpness.
Often the harvest from the plants of this variety group is not only sold fresh, but also canned fruits. It is not surprising that the varieties in the group produce up to 90% of the global volume of canned fruit. Compared to other varieties, pineapples of the Smooth Cayenne variety group develop longer and can also be attacked by common pests and crop diseases.
The Cayenne varietal group includes many distinct varieties:
- Baron de Rothschild;
- G-25;
- Dominguo;
- Gaimpew;
- Maipure;
- Sarawak;
- La Esmeralda;
- Hilo;
- Kew;
- Champaca;
- Amritha;
- MD-2.
At the same time, plants and fruits of different varieties, included in one group, can differ drastically among themselves. For example, Champaka pineapple, giving edible, but truly dwarf fruits, is grown as a houseplant. And Kew pineapples are giants weighing from 4 to 10 kg, which grow only on plantations.
Among the varieties of this extensive group, Amritha pineapples can be distinguished with prickly, pointed leaves and cylindrical, tapering to the bottom of the fruit weighing 1.5 to 2 kg. From the moment of planting to the blooming of a plant of this pineapple variety, it takes 13–15 months. The variety is distinguished by the formation of a small compact rosette on top of the fruit. Exotic fruits themselves pineapple in an unripe form have a smooth green color, which changes to yellow when the fruit is ready for cutting.
The bark thickness reaches 6 mm, and the pale yellow flesh under it is dense, crunchy, with no visible fibers. Amritha pineapples are distinguished by low acidity and rich aroma.
Almost 50% of the world market for fresh pineapples on the shelves is MD-2, which, according to experts, is rightfully considered the standard for the international market.
Cultivation of pineapple varieties in Central and South America began in 1996, and during this time the plants showed that they can bear fruit. High-quality fruits have:
- high sugar content;
- flat cylindrical shape;
- low acid content;
- average weight from 1.5 to 2 kg.
The fruits of MD-2 stand out for a very long shelf life of up to 30 days, which makes it possible to transport exotic fruits of pineapple over long distances without loss of quality.
And yet the plant can not be called perfect. MD-2 is more than Kew's pineapple variety, sensitive to rot and phytophthora.
Spanish Pineapple Varieties Group
The second group of pineapple varieties is called Spanish. Red Spanish pineapples are actively grown in Central America. The main crops are produced in Puerto Rico. Typically, such fruits, mainly for export, weigh 1–2 kilograms. Under the hard reddish peel, due to which the group got its name, lies a pale yellow or almost white flesh with a soft aroma and rather fibrous, compared to cayenne varieties, structure. On the cut, the Spanish pineapple seems almost square.
The Spanish group includes varieties:
- Pina blanca;
- Red Spanish;
- Cabezona;
- Canning;
- Valera Amarilla Roja;
The plants of these and other varieties that are included in the group are pleased with fruits weighing from 1 to 10 kg, and these are mainly table pineapples, to taste a little inferior to dessert varieties. This is reflected in tighter pulp and lower sugar content.
The Queen group also includes many noteworthy pineapple varieties, for example:
- Natal Queen;
- Macgregor;
- Z-Queen.
Pineapples of these varieties can be recognized by the greenish color of the peel. The socket consists of small leaves decorated with prickles on the edge. The weight of this fruit on average does not exceed 1.5 kg, and the flesh strikes a bright yellow color.
Gourmets say that comparing African pineapples and South American ones, it is difficult to give preference to one or another fruit. This is caused by the difference in taste. Pineapples from South Africa are not so sweet, but their acidity is lower than that of varieties originally from the American continent. The best Natal Queen varieties of pineapple with almost orange dessert pulp are grown in South Africa.
Abacaxi Group of Large-Crested Pineapples
Under the single group name Abacaxi, varieties are combined, with light or almost white juicy pulp, with no signs of lignification. The most famous varieties here are:
- Kona Sugarloaf;
- Black Jamaica;
The largest part of the plantations of Sugarloaf pineapple varieties are in Mexico and Venezuela. The fruits are characterized by low acid content, high juiciness and sweetness. The mass of such a pineapple can vary from 1 to 2.7 kg.
In addition to the listed groups and varieties, there are many others of regional importance. For example, in Australia for the past 150 years, their own breeding work has been carried out, based on experiments begun in the 19th century, in England. Today, the original varietal group is grown here, the fruits of which are in demand in the country.
A variety of Brazilian Pernambuco pineapples is also known. Despite the fact that such pineapples are not stored very well, they are in demand due to the high sugar content and the excellent quality of small portions.
In Asia, local varieties are common, including the Thai Tard Sri Thong and Sriracha pineapples, the Mauritius variety from India, as well as the extremely popular Baby Dwarf Pineapples, which are characterized by uniform juicy and very sweet flesh.
Mini Pineapples or Baby forms fruits only 10–15 cm in height. The diameter of such a crumbs is about 10 cm, but at a modest size the taste of a miniature fruit is in no way inferior to a large one. At the same time, the pineapple has a tender, fragrant and sweet pulp that does not have hard inclusions, like all fruits of standard sizes.
Ananas comosus var.comosus is not the only subspecies bearing edible fruits. Although other varieties of pineapple cannot be compared with large-browned pineapple in terms of sweetness and size of fruits, these plants are in demand and are grown to produce soft drinks, fiber, and also as ornamental and indoor plants.
First of all, the following types of Ananas comosus are in this capacity:
- Ananassoides;
- Erectifolius;
- Parguazensis;
- Bracteatus.
Ananas comosus var.bracteatus
The subspecies, also known as red pineapple, is an aboriginal South American plant. Even today, wild specimens of this species can be found in Brazil and Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador.
Plants with a height of about one meter stand out for their bright color, combining bands of almost white and thick green flowers. The leaves are decorated on the edge with sharp thorns. If the pineapple of this subspecies is grown in a well-lit place, then pink colors begin to dominate in the color of its rosette and fruits. Thanks to this feature, the plant got its name.
The blooming of the red pineapple is almost the same as the rest of the Ananas comosus subspecies. And the fecundity of plants is much higher than that of a large-crested pineapple.
Due to the unusual appearance of the foliage and brightness of the whole plant, Ananas bracteatus is an ornamental pineapple grown for the sake of small red fruits. In the garden, plants can be used as hedges or in flowerbeds, and in the house red pineapple will decorate any interior.
Ananas comosus var.ananassoides
Pineapples of this variety are also the indigenous inhabitants of South America, namely Brazil, Paraguay and Venezuela. In tropical areas and in the east of the Andes, plants ranging in height from 90 to 100 cm are quite often found in savanna conditions where there is a lack of moisture, and in shady moist forests along the river beds in Guiana and Costa Rica.
This subspecies of the wild-growing pineapple is widespread, and its dwarf fruits attract the attention of gardeners and indoor-plant lovers to the plant. A distinctive feature of the ornamental pineapple is the almost complete absence of the stem, hard, sharp leaves, from 90 to 240 cm long and reddish 15 cm inflorescences.
The fruits of this South American pineapple can be spherical. But more often on thin flexible stems elongated cylindrical stems are formed. The flesh inside is white or yellowish, fibrous, sweet with small brown seeds.
Ornamental pineapples of the erectifolius and parguazensis species.
A bright large pineapple variety, like other members of the genus, is native to South America and is found in several countries in the region. Although mini pineapples that ripen on plants do not have commercial value, the culture is actively grown in gardens and indoors.
There are several varieties of pineapples of this subspecies, the most popular of which is considered to be presented in the photo «Chocolate».
Pineapple subspecies parguazensis is not very common. Most of the wild population is in Colombia, in northern Brazil and Venezuela, in Guyana, and the plant is also found in French Guiana. A characteristic feature of the plant can be considered jagged soft leaves and powerful sultans on the tiny ornamental pineapple stem.
