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Mauritius pineapple

Mauritius is a dessert-purpose pineapple cultivar (Ananas comosus) and the GI-tagged variety of the Vazhakulam belt in Muvattupuzha, Ernakulam district, Kerala, where it is locally known as Kannara. It is the standard commercial pineapple of central Kerala and the basis of the well-known "Vazhakulam Pineapple" geographical indication.

Key characteristics

  • Scientific name: Ananas comosus cv. Mauritius
  • GI status: registered as Vazhakulam Pineapple (GI No. 130) on 4 September 2009
  • Fruit shape: conical, medium-sized
  • Flesh: crisp, golden-yellow
  • TSS: 14-16 deg Brix
  • Acidity: 0.50-0.70%

Cultivation

The Pineapple Research Station at Vazhakulam, under Kerala Agricultural University since 1995, develops and refines the production technology for Mauritius. Suckers and slips are the principal planting materials; high-density double-row plantings of around 50,000-60,000 plants per hectare are standard in Kerala. The crop is grown under full sunlight on terraced or contour-bunded fields, with farmyard manure and drip or supplementary irrigation. Ethephon-induced flowering is used to synchronise harvest, and a typical crop cycle delivers a plant crop followed by one to two ratoons over about three years.

Pest and disease profile

Heart-rot and root-rot caused by Phytophthora spp., mealybug-transmitted pineapple wilt and fruit-borer are the principal problems. Drainage management, indexed planting material and integrated pest management are the basis of control.

Adoption and use

Mauritius pineapple is sold as fresh dessert fruit through Thodupuzha and Vazhakulam trade channels into Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states, alongside Kerala domestic markets. It is also processed into juice, slices, jam and concentrate by units in central Kerala. The cultivar is preferred over the larger-fruited but less sweet Kew (Smooth Cayenne) type in domestic table-fruit markets.

(No close sibling entries in this bundle group.)

References

  1. Pineapple Research Station, Vazhakulam. Kerala Agricultural University.
  2. Production technology for Vazhakulam Pineapple (Mauritius). Kerala Agricultural University.