Pineapple plant named ‘FR11834’

Abstract

A new and distinct pineapple plant named FR11834, comprising certain unique traits, standing out Fusarium resistance obtained after crossing and backcrossing Fusarium resistant pineapple lines with an MD-2 pineapple. The invention incorporates stable, inheritable resistance to Fusariosis disease in a pineapple variety capable of addressing all of the high quality requirements of global export markets.

Claims

1. A new and distinct Ananas comosus plant named FR11834, as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

(1) The accompanying pictures illustrate the overall appearance of the new Ananas comosus var. comosus FR11834 showing infection damage caused by artificial inoculation with four different isolates of Fusarium guttiforme showing the colors as reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. The lesion caused by direct inoculation with an infected needle on the fruit helped verify the resistance trait (earlier established by immersion of young plants in a suspension of Fusarium guttiforme's most virulent isolate), when comparing reaction of fruit pulp tissue of the new pineapple variety FR11834 with MD2:

(2) FIG. 1. View of the new variety FR11834 at 5.3 months after forcing (MAF).

(3) FIG. 2. Cross sectional view of FR11834 and MD2 fruit inoculated with Fusarium guttiforme isolates DM017, DMB35, DMB37 and DMB40 at 5.3 MAF.

(4) FIG. 3. Longitudinal section view of Fusarium guttiforme inoculation site on fruit of FR11834 variety (which may be denoted as FR11834-M) and MD2 fruit at 5.3 MAF.

(5) FIG. 4. External view of Fusarium guttiforme inoculation site on fruit of FR11834 and MD2 varieties at 5.3 MAF.

(6) FIG. 5. External view of inflorescence of FR11834 (which may be denoted as FR11834-M) and MD2 varieties at 62 days after floral induction.

(7) FIG. 6. Emerging inflorescence of FR11834 and MD-2 right before flower opening; FR11834 shows a distinct yellow coloration of sepals that contrasts with the reddish coloration of MD-2 sepals at early cone stage.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(8) The new Ananas comosus cultivar FR11834 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. However, the plants were grown under environmental conditions and cultural practices which approximate those generally used in commercial pineapple growing operations. The phenotype of the new cultivar may still vary depending on the environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, and photoperiod without any change made to the genotype of the plant.

(9) The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describing plants of FR11834 variety are based on observations made under optimally fertilized and growing conditions, in the region of Limoeiro do Norte, Cear, Brazil (latitude 5.21945833 and longitude 37.914505), where the temperatures generally range from 15.96-38.70 C., and an annual rainfall average of 746 mm.

(10) The color terminology and designation reported here are in accordance to the Munsell Color Notation for Plants Tissues published by Munsell Color Macbeth, a division of Kollmorgen Corporation, Baltimore, Md. USA.

(11) The following description was made based on a population of FR11834 plants, the BC3 hybrid obtained through hand pollination of parental lines in 2015 and planted in 2018 and fruit harvested in 2020 and new propagules produced from this plant planted in 2020. Plant identification: Name: Ananas comosus var. comosus FR11834. Parental lines: Selected plant (BC2) 1/2.24 backcrossed to MD-2. Origin: Conventional genetic improvement (hand pollination), through crossing and backcrossing. Classification: Botanical: Bromeliaceae or pineapple family. Subfamily: Bromelioidae. Genus: Ananas. Subgenus: comosus. Variety: FR11834. Commercial: Bromeliad fruit plant (pineapple). Form: Terrestrial, with overlapping, sessile leaves from a funnel-formed rosette, surrounding a composite inflorescence (during anthesis), with few or no slips in the fruit peduncle and suckers that are produced in the stem and originate subsequent crops. General description: FR11834 (before anthesis). Growth habit: Semi-erect. Stem: I. General.Short, vertical, and covered by overlapping leaves, each leaf with a dominant axillary bud. II. Stem texture.Glabrous and fleshy. III. Stem size.A) Length (above soil level): usually between 13.90-26.00 cm at anthesis. B) Diameter between 6.90-14.00 cm at ground level to the anthesis. IV. Stem shape.Cylindrical and with a narrower diameter at the distal part. V. Stem color.Whitish in color (7.5YR 9/4 in the Munsell color chart) Leaves: I. General.Closely overlapping sessile leaves (formed in acropetal succession) forming a dense rosette, the outline of which in longitudinal section is roughly heart shaped. The number of leaves fluctuates between 38-48 with a 5/13 phyllotaxy. II. Texture.A) Upper epidermal area: Glabrous, semirigid and channeled (or concave) except at the leaf tip. B) Lower epidermal area: Finely striated (longitudinally) and appears covered with a white layer consisting of scale like trichomes. III. Leaf arrangement.Alternate and in rosette shape. IV. Leaf margins.Flat, with rarely found irregularly spaced small deltoid cuspidate hooked spines usually located on the distal portions of leaves. Size of spines 1.95 mm. V. Leaf venation.Parallel. VI. Leaf shape.Leaves are not uniform in shape and vary with the position of the leaf on the stem. The basal or oldest leaves are lanceolate while the base is considerably expanded. There is a noticeable narrowing in width between achlorophyllous (basal) and chlorophyllous (or main portion) of the leaves. The longest or most mature leaves are lanceolate in shape, but the base is without the arcuate expansions of the preceding leaves. The remaining leaves (or center leaves of the plant rosette) are lanceolate in form with no expansion of width into the base. VII. Leaf size (to anthesis).A) Length: Usually between 69.0-103.0 cm for those D leaves with a non chlorophyllous base that usually is between 8.0-14.0 cm in length. B) Width: Normally between 3.2-7.5 cm in the mid leaf area of the longest leaves. The expanded basal disk usually has a maximum width of 2.9-10.8 cm. C) Thickness: In the longest leaves, it usually varies between 1.80-2.60 mm at the center of the mid leaf area and decrease laterally between 1.1-1.5 mm at the margin, while becoming slightly thinner towards the tip. The expanded basal disk at the mid stem area usually has a maximum thickness of 1.94-2.80 mm at the center of the blade and tapering laterally toward margins up to 0.33-0.95 mm. VIII. Leaf color similar to that of MD2, mostly lacking anthocyanin.A) Upper epidermal surface: 1. General: dominant color is usually dark green. The color of the basal disk is predominantly white and light green. achlorophyllous basal disk area: commonly pale white. Mid leaf area: commonly dark green (7.5GY 4/6 in the Munsell color chart). Leaf tip area: commonly dark green (7.5GY 4/6 in the Munsell color chart). B) Lower epidermal surface (underside): General: commonly green to grayish green (10GY 6/5 in the Munsell color chart) with pale white basal disk area (N8 in the Munsell color chart). Inflorescence (at anthesis): I. General.Flower composite from 47-93 fruitlets borne per inflorescence of a long peduncle of approximately 16.2-18.0 cm length at the apical meristem. Individual bisexual flowers that consist of three Sepals, Six Stamens, three Stigmas and three Carpels. The inflorescence is self-incompatible producing edible fruit parthenocarpically (production of fruit without fertilization of ovules). II. Texture.Glabrous and fleshy. III. Shape.Oval with slightly raised flowers with a light red to grayish red color in the crown. IV. Size and color.Comparable to specimens of Ananas comosus var. comosus. Petal size: 1.50 cm. Petal color in the apex: light purple (10P 5/10 in the Munsell color chart). V. Sepal size.0.77 cm. Sepal color: reddish brown (7.5R 5/2 in the Munsell color chart). VI. Floral bract's length.From 1.61 cm, serrated margins (with tiny spines); yellowish brown color (2.5Y 5/4 in the Munsell color chart). Crown (at harvest): I. General.Visually one crown, composed on average of 88 leaves. Crown leaves are short, lanceolate in shape, and erect at anthesis, measuring on average 6.8 cm. II. Leaf arrangement.Alternate and in rosette shape. III. Leaf margins.Flat with smooth borders. Seldom very small spines in the tip of one leaf. IV. Size crown size at harvest.Average 16.2 cm. Weight: average 186 g. Diameter: 14.6 cm. V. Shape.Medium crown with medium width and semirigid leaves. VI. Attitude.Upright VII. VI. Color of the terminal crown leaves.A. Upper surface: Dark green color at the apex (5GY 2/2 in the Munsell color chart) and dark green at the base (5GY 2/2) in the Munsell color chart). B. Lower surface: grayish green (10GY 6/5 in the Munsell color chart). Fruit (at harvest): I. Size.Usually with a weight between 861-2053 grams and average weight of 1191 grams. Fruit core's diameter 2.15 cm. Fruit core's color: yellow to dark yellow (7.5Y 9/6 in the Munsell color chart). II. Shape.Cylindrical with flat and medium size fruitlets. Medium-big crown with thin and semirigid leaves. Average fruit's height 12.93 cm, fruit's diameter: average 10.0 cm. III. How borne.The development of the fruit occurs from the apical meristem of the plant on a long and strong peduncle, usually between 16.2-18.4 cm length. No slips available for evaluation. 6 long peduncle bracts, with spines on the edges and of medium green to dark green color (2.5GY 6/8 in the Munsell color chart) are generally present at the base of the fruit. Color. A) Shell: commonly grayish green at early maturity (2.5GY in the Munsell color chart), with yellowish brown bract (2.5Y 5/4 in the Munsell color chart). Fruit with yellow peduncle (7.5Y 9/6 in the Munsell color chart). IV. Fruit flesh.Dense, firm, medium in fiber and juiciness, emitting characteristic pineapple aroma; flesh color distinctly yellow (7.5Y 8/6 in the Munsell color chart). V. Brix.Typically, average 19.0 degrees, standing out from their parents. VI. Total acid levels.Usually between 0.59-0.72 milligrams of citric acid/ml of juice, with an average of 0.63 mg/ml. VII. Vitamin C content reported as ascorbic acid content.Regularly between 47.13 and 56.70 mg/100 ml of juice, with an average of 53.15 mg/100 ml. VIII. Plant/fruit resistance/susceptibility to pest and diseases.The plant of the new variety FR11834 performs very similar to MD-2 differentiating mainly in its resistance to Fusarium guttiforme. Table 2 shows the comparison of pineapple varieties FR11834, MD-2 and Champaka (not patented) and their resistance to Fusarium guttiforme. Others: I. Fertility.This plant is self-incompatible. This is the reason why the presence of sexual seeds is almost null. The material used for planting are suckers, fruit crowns and vitro plants. II. Vigor.This plant exhibits similar vigor as its parents, the 1/2.24 line, and the MD-2 variety. III. Yield.A population of this pineapple can have an agronomic yield from 85 to 147 ton/ha. IV. Plant use.The fruit will be commercialized within the fresh fruit and processed fruit for the export markets. Summary of the special characteristics: the FR11834 plants present the following differences when compared to its parental lines: A. Resistance to fusarium guttiforme.MD-2 is very susceptible to this pathogen, while FR11834 exhibits total resistance. B. Yellow colored pulp.The backcross between the 1/2.24 backcrossed against MD-2, resulted in a fruit with similar shell color and yellow pulp like the MD-2 variety. C. Plant with few or no slips.MD-2 variety produces between 1-3 slips per plant, and the 1/2.24 produces between 3-7 slips per plant. By comparison, FR11834, produces few or no slips, which may reduce cosmetic and pest problems that can be originated by the contact of the slips with the fruit. D. At full maturity.The FR11834 fruit achieves consistently high sugar content, brix levels being almost 2 degrees higher than those achieved by MD-2 under similar circumstances. Citric acid, and ascorbic acid are similar as those of MD-2 and 1/2.24 fruits. E. As a result of the backcross process.FR11834 has acquired resistance to Fusarium guttiforme, just like the 1/2.24 but with an improved fruit size, pulp color, and internal quality similar to the MD-2. This combination of characteristics is important to differentiate this hybrid from its parents; as shown on Table 3, when reproduced asexually, these characteristics are stable and reproducible for successive generations.

(12) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Average data for select organoleptic parameters and fruit size of the FR11834 hybrid. Ascorbic. Citric Fruit Acid Acid Weight Number Generation n Brix (mg/100 ml) (mg/ml) (g) of slips FR11834 1 18.1 56.7 0.72 2053 0 MD2 71 16.3 61.4 0.95 1949 0 (data for FR11834 represent observations from the first plant evaluated when backcrossing MD-2 with 1/2.24 hybrid; data for MD2 represents the average score for MD2 variety in the region). Individual plant description: The following is an overview of FR11834 hybrid, a new pineapple plant variety, that was developed through hybridization process in Limoeiro do Norte, Cear, Brazil. Plant age.15.38 months after planting plus 5.32 months after forcing. Plant growth habit.Semi-upright. Plant diameter.Around 146 cm between opposite leaf tips. Plant height.127 cm above ground surface. Stem.Length. Between 13.90-26.00 cm above ground surface. Diameter. Between 6.90-14.00 cm above ground surface. Leaves: I. Number.53 leaves. II. Length.103 cm the longest leaf. III. Width.(Largest leaves) at mid leaf (max.) 6.35 cm. Leaf piping is absent. IV. Thickness.2.15 mm along the axis. V. Color.A) Upper epidermal chlorophyllous area: Commonly dark green (7.5GY 4/6 in the Munsell color chart). B) Upper epidermal non chlorophyllous area: commonly pale white (N8 in the Munsell color chart). C) Lower epidermal area: Commonly grayish green (10GY 6/2 in the Munsell color chart). Leaf anthocyanin coloration may appear slightly on some plants. Inflorescence: General.Composite inflorescence borne on a long peduncle at the apical meristem. The inflorescence is composed of 93 flowers, which eventually lead to an equal number of fruitlets.

(13) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Petals: Description of size and texture of flowers of FR11834 hybrid Inflores- cence UPOV ID Trait Note 14 Size of bracts (cm) 1, 61 15 Petal: color of apex 2 (purple red), base (white) 16 Petal length (mm) 15.0 N/A Petal width (cm) 0.70 N/A Petal Height (cm) 1.50 N/A Petal texture very finely textured and smooth feel I. Reproductive organs. Description of size and shape of reproductive organs of FR11834 Inflores- cence Trait Note Style (mm) 9.48 Stamen (mm) 9.11 Style shape tubular Stamen shape tubular Style color Base = white, top - pale purple Filament color Filament base = white, filament top - pale purple Anther color Pale yellow Pollen color transparent II. Peduncle. length and diameter of the peduncle of FR11834 hybrid are as follows. Peduncule UPOV ID Trait Note 21 Length (cm) 17.5 1.3 22 Diameter (cm) 2.4 0.3

(14) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Susceptibility to pest and diseases of different commercial varieties to Fusarium guttiforme (FR11834 is resistant and Champaka and MD2 are susceptible). Pineapple Variety Pest/Disease FR11834 MD-2 Champaka Fusarium guttiforme. R+ S + S

(15) The pineapple variety FR11834 has a post-harvest shelf life similar to MD-2 variety, showing similar performance in shell dehydration studies.

(16) FR11834 fruit general characteristics are as follows (A) a fruitlet apex which is flat; (B) the flesh density is medium; (C) the number fruitlets per syncarp is 47-93; (D) the fruitlet characteristics are as follows:

(17) TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 UPOV ID Trait Note Fruit 31 Fruit shape (cylindrical) 3 32 Fruit length (cm) 12.9 4.7 33 Fruit diameter (cm) 10.0 1.3 34 Predominant color of mature eye 6 (medium yellow) 35 Fruit: Size (medium) 5 N/A Size of eye diameter width (cm) 2.65 0.1 N/A Size of eye length (cm) 2.65 0.1 N/A Color of immature eye (grayish green) 4 37 Fruitlet apex (flat) 2 38 Evenness of color of eyes (even or 1 slightly uneven) I. Shell color.FR11834 shell color at mature (10YR 9/4) and immature (2.5GY 1/2) stages. II. Weight and shape of fruit.FR11834 average fruit weight is similar to the MD-2, and Champaka; FR11834 has a cylindrical shape. III. Ascorbic acid.FR11834 has a higher content of ascorbic acid than its relative A. comosus cv. Manzana, but similar to MD-2 variety. IV. Citric acid.FR11834 citric acid content is similar to MD-2. V. Brix.The sugar content (measured as brix degrees) of FR11834 is significantly higher than that found on MD-2. VI. Age to forcing.FR11834 is vigorous and can reach forcing plant size 8-17 months after planting (shorter when using vegetative propagation material, and longer when starting with seed). Although plant development time to forcing depends on the size of planting material used and the desired plant weight at floral induction, the above figures are similar to those achieved by the MD-2 variety, which reaches an optimal forcing size in 8.5 months after planting when using vegetative propagation material. VII. Leaf spines.This characteristic is commonly used to differentiate pineapple plants from other varieties. The color of the leaf spines are as follows: Tip: dark green like MD2 (7.5GY 4/6 in the Munsell color chart), base: dark green like MD2 (7.5GY 4/6 in the Munsell color chart). FR11834 does not have conspicuous or regular thorns on the leaf like its parental 1/2.24, or its parental MD-2, although MD-2 often presents irregular thorns on the edges of the leaf blade as well. VIII. Fruit quality of FR11834 when compared with other pineapple varieties.Most pineapple varieties grown worldwide are produced for local consumption, and very few are grown for international commercialization and global distribution. The fruit characteristics bred into FR11834 were specifically chosen to comply with the strictest quality standards of export markets like those of North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. As shown in Table 5, FR11834 compares very favorably against MD-2, the pineapple variety that has achieved most notoriety to date in global markets.

(18) TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Comparison of FR11834 against other varieties on some of the most important characteristics relevant to fresh fruit destined for exportation. Comparative characteristics of different pineapple varieties and cultivars Variety/ # Of slips Fruit weight (g) Cultivar.sup.(11) Average Range Average Range FR11834.sup.(1) 0 0-1 1191 681-2053 MD2.sup.(2) 1.2 0-3 1820 1070-2560 Morada.sup.(3) 7.57 4-9 1887 1566-2000 Honey Gold 1.5 0-3 1033 450-1678 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,328 P3) Champaka 1.1 1710 420-3010 153.sup.(3) Champaka 1.5 2328 F152 CO-2.sup.(4) 2-3 2059 1297-2590 Singapore 2-12 1000 Spanish.sup.(5) Sarawak.sup.(5) 0 2000-4000 Mauritius.sup.(5) 0 500-1500 Josephine.sup.(6) 1100-1300 Scarlett.sup.(6) 1400-2000 Red Spansh.sup.(7) 1-3 1200-2000 Tainung 11.sup.(7) 6.9 991 733-1269 Imperial.sup.(8) 9 1792 Perolera.sup.(8) 8-10 1800 Pernambuco.sup.(9) 1000-1500 Primavera.sup.(9) 7-10 1300 Queen.sup.(10) 10 500-1000 Comparative characteristics of different pineapple varieties and cultivars Ascorbic Acid Citric Acid Variety/ (mg/100 ml) (mg/ml) Cultivar.sup.(11) Average Range Average Range FR11834.sup.(1) 53.15 47.13-56.70 0.63 0.59-0.72 MD2.sup.(2) 53.06 37.00-69.06 0.6 0.36-0.84 Morada.sup.(3) 20.03 9.90-24.90 0.69 0.58-0.86 Honey Gold 21.14 14.73-37.36 0.98 0.67-1.33 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,328 P3) Champaka 12.91 8.10-17.72 0.72 0.54-0.90 153.sup.(3) Champaka 0.73 F152 CO-2.sup.(4) 30.80-55.50 0.42-0.91 Singapore 0.50-0.60 Spanish.sup.(5) Sarawak.sup.(5) 0.30-0.65 Mauritius.sup.(5) 0.40-0.60 Josephine.sup.(6) Scarlett.sup.(6) Red Spansh.sup.(7) Tainung 11.sup.(7) 1.40-18.50 0.5 0.40-0.6 Imperial.sup.(8) 0.62 Perolera.sup.(8) 0.64 Pernambuco.sup.(9) Primavera.sup.(9) 0.51 Queen.sup.(10) 26 0.56 Comparative characteristics of different pineapple varieties and cultivars Variety/ Brix Cultivar.sup.(11) Average Range FR11834.sup.(1) 19.00 18.1-20.7 MD2.sup.(2) 15.55 12.9-17.2 Morada.sup.(3) 13.51 12.2-15.1 Honey Gold 16.18 14.4-18.1 (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,328 P3) Champaka 14.33 11.6-17.0 153.sup.(3) Champaka 14.97 F152 CO-2.sup.(4) 15.0-16.7 Singapore 10.0-12.0 Spanish.sup.(5) Sarawak.sup.(5) 14.0-17.0 Mauritius.sup.(5) 15.0-17.0 Josephine.sup.(6) 17.0-22.0 Scarlett.sup.(6) 15.0-18.0 Red Spansh.sup.(7) 12.00 Tainung 11.sup.(7) 14.00 13.2-15.1 Imperial.sup.(8) 15.80 Perolera.sup.(8) 13.10 14.0-16.0 Pernambuco.sup.(9) Primavera.sup.(9) 13 Queen.sup.(10) 14.0-16.0 (data for FR11834 represent observations from the first plant evaluated when backcrossing MD-2 with 1/2.24 hybrid; data for MD2 represents the average score for MD2 variety in the region). .sup.(1)FR11834 fruit harvested in Brazil. .sup.(2)Pindeco's historical data base and monthly research report April 2001. .sup.(3)Pindeco's fruit historical data base. Pindeco's forcing plant weight data base. .sup.(4)Plant patent 8,863. .sup.(5)Wee, Y. C. 1972. Some common pineapple cultivars of west Malaysia. Malays Pineapple pp 7-13. .sup.(6)Bartholomew et al. 2003 The Pineapple, Botany, Production and Uses. .sup.(7)Chang, Ching-Chyn, 1995 Tainung No. 13. Pineapple. Jour. Agric. Res. China 44(2): 287-296. .sup.(8)Pinto da Cunha et al. 0 abacaxizeiro. Pineapple News Issue No 10 May 2003. .sup.(9)Pinto da Cunha et al. 0 abacaxizeiro. Py et al. The pineapple Cultivation and uses. .sup.(10)Del Monte pineapple germplasm collection database. .sup.(11)Cultivars are unpatented unless indicated otherwise.

REFERENCES CITED

(19) MATOS, A. P. (2008)Perdas causadas pela F. guttiforme. Disponivel em.

(20) MATOS, A. P. & JUNEGHANS, D. T. Variedades de abacaxi resistentes a F. guttiforme. 2006. Cruz das Almas, BA.

(21) Munsell Color chart for Plant Tissues. published by Munsell Color Macbeth, a division of Kollmorgen Corporation, Baltimore, Md. USA.