Yellow pineapple. Pineapple: what types and varieties is an exotic fruit divided into. What are the varieties of pineapple

A pineapple ( lat. Ananas - a genus of evergreen tropical plants of the family Bromeliaceae (Bromeliaceae).

Unlike most plants of the bromeliad family, pineapple is not an epiphyte and in nature does not grow on other plants, but in the ground, receiving both water and nutrients from the earth.

Pineapple comes from Brazil, and it came to Europe at the end of the 18th century. After 30 years, the British for the first time managed to get the fruits of pineapple in a greenhouse, and since that time it began to be grown everywhere in greenhouses along with oranges - as a favorite dessert of rich people. Horticultural books published in the 19th century detailed how the pineapple was cultivated. At the end of the 60s, commercial export of pineapples from the Azores arose, where this plant began to be grown on an industrial scale, and interest in indoor breeding faded. In 1553, the first description of pineapple is mentioned in the book "Chronicle of Peru" by Cies de Leon.

A pineapple- This is a herbaceous perennial plant with a strongly shortened stem and a dense rosette of leaves. The leaves are rigid, linear, xiphoid, 50-120 cm long and 3-6 cm wide, serrated at the edges, prickly. Mature plants can grow up to 1 meter high and up to 2 meters in diameter. A fleshy stem grows from the basal rosette of leaves, on top of which a peduncle up to 30-60 cm long is formed. The inflorescence is spike-shaped, ending at the top with a "sultan" - a rosette of small bracts. It is this fetal rosette that can be seen on pineapple fruits, which are sold in stores. The spike-shaped inflorescence has more than a hundred greenish-white or slightly purple inconspicuous flowers. Each flower is covered with a red or green bract. Flowering is long, about one month. At the beginning, flowers bloom at the bottom of the inflorescence, then - adjacent to them, and so on to the top. Infructescence formed after the fertilization of numerous flowers of the inflorescence, according to appearance resembles a large fleshy golden pine cone yellow color. Thus, the pineapple fruit is a composite fruit, consisting of many ovaries fused with bracts and the axis of the inflorescence. The infructescence has a cylindrical, conical or ellipsoidal shape. Top covered with scales.

The peel and core of the fruit are inedible. Formation and ripening of fruits lasts 90-200 days. During the year they can harvest 2-3 crops. Sweet and sour, very juicy and fragrant seedless pineapple fruits cultivars come in weight from 800 g to 3.6 kg in rare cases up to 15 kg. Fruit size varies greatly depending on variety and growing conditions. Pineapple fruits contain vitamins A, B, C, 11-12% sugars, 0.5% organic acids, etc.

Pineapple is consumed fresh and canned (most often in its own juice). For processing, fully ripe fruits are used. Jam is made from it, sweets, juices, wine are made. Waste for the preparation of canned food and juices is used for the production of alcohol and vodka products, as well as the enzyme bromelain. Fiber is obtained from the leaves of some types of pineapple. Because of the wonderful fruits in many tropical and subtropical countries, crested pineapple (Ananas comosus) is cultivated.

In the tropical regions of America: Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, Colombia, 8 species of pineapple grow; widely cultivated in the tropics and subtropics of both hemispheres. The leading areas of pineapple production are the Hawaiian and Azores, as well as the Philippines, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Ghana, and Guinea. Plantations in India expanded significantly. In Russia, pineapples can be grown in greenhouses. There are 4-6 species in greenhouse collections, 2-3 species are used in room culture. The largest pineapple plantations are concentrated at the beginning of the 21st century in the Hawaiian Islands (about 30% of world production)

It is currently cultivated - at home as a purely ornamental plant, and if a small fruit appears on it - this is an additional reward to the owner.

Types of pineapple

. Synonym: Pineapple pineapple (Ananas ananas), Pineapple duckei (Ananas duckei), Pineapple seed (Ananas sativus), Pineapple seed diff. duckey (Ananas sativus var. duckei), Pineapple bromeliad (Bromelia ananas), Large crested bromeliad (Bromelia comosa).

This is a terrestrial plant with a strongly shortened stem and a rosette of rigid linear xiphoid leaves, in adulthood it has a height of 1 m and a diameter of 2 m. The leaves are gray-green, grooved, strongly narrowed towards the top, covered entirely with scales, seated at the edges with sharp spikes. The flowers are bisexual, 8 cm long, 4 cm wide, spirally arranged in simple dense spike-shaped inflorescences, where they sit in the axils of wide cup-shaped bracts. Petals 1.2 cm long, pinkish-purple, sepals do not grow together, prickly along the edge. After the end of flowering, a compact golden-yellow fruit is formed. The main axis continues to grow, and a shortened vegetative shoot, the “sultan”, is formed at the top of the seed. Blooms in March-April, July, December; fruit maturation lasts 4.5-5 months. Native to Brazil, found on open places, forest edges, in sparse herbage. In Europe in culture since 1650.

There is the most striking form of variegatus, which is distinguished by its smaller size and white longitudinal stripes along the edges of the leaves.

. The most beautiful view. Leaves up to 70-90 cm long, elongated, with sharp spikes, gray-green or green with a pinkish tinge and a yellow border. Compact infructescence, resembling a cone, consisting of many ovaries fused with bracts and the axis of the inflorescence. The fruits are pink in color. It bears fruit mainly in the summer-autumn period, but very rarely in room culture.

The plant should be protected from direct sunlight. When watering, it is better to use soft water.

Pineapple dwarf (Ananas nanus) . Synonym: Pineapple pineapple diff. dwarf (Ananas ananassoides var. nanus) . This is a new dwarf variety with 20-30 cm leaves.

Lighting. Pineapple light-loving plant, all year round he needs good lighting. Optimal for it is suitable for placement near south-facing windows. An indicator of sufficient illumination of a pineapple is the bluish color of old leaves and the reddish tips of young ones; the plant grows dense, strong, its leaves do not fall apart to the sides. In winter and cloudy days, it is advisable to illuminate with fluorescent lamps for 8-10 hours at a distance of about 20 cm.

Temperature. The optimum air temperature for pineapple in the summer is about 22-30°C. In the autumn winter period not lower than 18°C. In winter, in order to avoid damage to the plant by the hot air flow emanating from central heating radiators, pots of pineapples are placed in wide pallets with wet sand.

Watering. In summer, the plant is abundantly watered with soft water. room temperature. In hot weather, water can be poured into the rosette of leaves, but if the air temperature drops below 20 ° C, then the water from the rosettes should be removed. In winter, watering is reduced, if the air temperature drops to 15 ° C, then watering is reduced and completely stopped in order to avoid rotting of the plant.

Pineapple tolerates dry air well, so it does not need additional spraying.

Fertilizer. Fertilizers are applied in spring and summer. It is best to use organic and mineral fertilizers alternately, applying them every 2-3 weeks.

The soil. The soil mixture for growing pineapple is made up of: 2 parts of leafy soil, 1 part of soddy soil, 1 humus and 1 sand or semi-rotted leaves, fibrous peat, rotten, lumpy soddy soil, taken in equal parts. Pineapples need acidic soil pH 4-5. Good drainage is necessary for pineapple, containers for growing pineapple must be taken wide and low, since the root system of pineapple is superficial.

Reproduction. Pineapples breed different ways: seeds, cuttings, children, root shoots.

Pineapple seeds are small, 1.5 x 4.0 mm in size, yellow-brown, sickle-curved. They are extracted from well-ripened fruits, washed in a weak pink solution of potassium permanganate and dried in air. The substrate for sowing seeds can be leafy soil, coniferous soil, or a mixture of equal parts of peat soil and sand. In this case, the seeds are immersed in the soil to a depth of 1-2 cm, watered with settled water and covered with a transparent film or glass on top.

Sowing is placed in a very warm room (the temperature should not fall below 20 ° C). The rate of emergence of the first shoots depends on the temperature in the room. At a temperature of 20-24°C, seed germination occurs after a month and a half, at 25-27°C - after 20-25 days, and at 30-35°C, the first shoots appear after 15-20 days. Pineapple seeds germinate unfriendly, at different times. So, the germination of some seeds can take 5-7 or more months.

Seedling care comes down to regular watering and spraying. Fertilizer watering is applied twice a month with a solution of mineral fertilizers or bird droppings at the rate of 15-20 g per liter. On hot days, young plants shade from the sun.

When the leaves reach 6-7 cm, the seedlings dive into a loose substrate. It is prepared from equal parts of leaf, sod, peat, humus soil and sand with the addition of a small amount (about 5% of the total substrate volume) of charcoal. In addition, plants must be gradually accustomed to drier air, systematically opening the film cover.

Barren shoots, which often develop under the inflorescence, and the suprafruit rosette of leaves, which are cut along with the top of the fruit, can be cut into cuttings.

To propagate pineapple with a rosette, you need to choose a fruit with a well-developed bunch of leaves and cut off the top 2.5 cm thick from it. The pulp should be cut off, leaving only a bunch of leaves on a fibrous cylindrical core. Sections on the cuttings are treated with a strong solution of potassium permanganate, and then with charcoal powder. After that, the cuttings are dried for 2 days in a dark and dry place. Planted in a substrate of equal parts of leaf, peat soil and sand with the addition of charcoal. Planted cuttings are cultivated under glass or film at a temperature of 22-24 ° C and good lighting. Rooting of cuttings under such conditions usually occurs within 1.5-2 months, at a higher temperature, rooting occurs faster. They are left under a transparent cover for some more time, and when the growth of new leaves intensifies, it is removed, the seedlings are often sprayed with water.

Pineapple can also be propagated by basal children. Side shoots and basal suckers are carefully broken out after they have reached a length of at least 20 cm. Basal suckers often already have their own roots. The cut is sprinkled with crushed charcoal and allowed to dry for 5-7 days in a cool, ventilated place. To improve the formation of roots in coal, it is good to add a stimulant (heteroauxin) as well. Root cuttings only when the cuts are healed. After that, basal rosettes are planted in a substrate composed of two layers: a three-centimeter layer of soddy soil is poured onto the bottom of the pot, and a substrate consisting of one part of leafy soil, one part of humus and two parts of sand is poured on top. Or large washed and calcined sand, fine expanded clay or gravel, broken bricks or cuttings, perlite mixed with long-staple peat. Sometimes the cuttings are rooted immediately in a loose soil mixture for young plants mixed with coarse sand.

The optimum air temperature for the rooting of children is 22-26 ° C, but at the same time, lower heating must be provided so that the temperature of the substrate is not lower than 25 ° C. To increase the humidity, the stalk is covered with a jar or a transparent bag. To do this, stick 3-4 sticks around the cutting between the leaves and cover it. plastic bag so that the leaves do not touch it. The edges of the bag are pulled together with an elastic band if rooting occurs in a pot. In this case, water droplets will not flow down the leaves, which can cause the cuttings to rot, but along the inner wall of the bag. The plant needs to create optimal conditions: bright diffused light (but not direct sunlight), high humidity and heat, substrate temperature not lower than 25 ° C. At home, it can be heated with fluorescent lamps, or fluorescent lamps, or simply from a central heating battery.

Under favorable conditions, roots appear within months. During this period, it is necessary to monitor the humidity of the substrate, it is important not to overmoisten or overdry it, to systematically ventilate the plants, removing the bag or jar for several minutes daily. The first sign of rooting is the appearance of new light green leaves in the center.

For planting a plant that has given roots, a shallow bowl is used, since the root system of the pineapple is wide and superficial, the roots do not go deep into the soil. A large shard is placed at the bottom with the concave side down or pieces of aluminum wire are laid (you can use plastic or polyethylene gratings). The 2/3 bowl must be filled with drainage. Good drainage and a loose substrate contribute to the development of roots and prevent waterlogging and acidification of the soil during the cold season. Rooted young plants are transplanted into pots filled with a substrate consisting of 2 parts of leafy soil, 1 part of turf, 1 humus and 1 sand. They are kept in warm and bright rooms with a temperature of at least 25°C (optimal - 28-30°C).

Bloom. Pineapple blooms in the 3-4th year (when the length of the leaves reaches about 60 cm, and the diameter of the base is about 10 cm), but sometimes much later, or even does not bloom at all. Acetylene water can be used to stimulate flowering. To do this, dissolve a piece of carbide (15 g) in a liter jar of water. After the end of gas evolution, the solution must be carefully filtered and stored in a refrigerator in a tightly closed jar (so it does not lose its properties for 2 days). A quarter cup of liquid at room temperature is poured into the center of the outlet, where the growth point is located. The next day, the procedure is repeated. Stimulation is possible only in adult plants and in the warm season. After 1.5-2 months, a reddish-red peduncle should appear from the center of the outlet. With a lack of light, it may have a light green color. At this time, it is necessary to maximize the lighting and increase the content of phosphorus and potassium in top dressing by reducing the proportion of nitrogen.

Precautionary measures

Crested pineapple can cause contact dermatitis.

Possible difficulties

Pale leaf color. The reason may be the lack of lighting. Adjust the lighting, on cloudy days, backlighting with fluorescent lamps is necessary.

The rosette of leaves is loose and falls apart to the side. The reason may also be a lack of lighting.

The tops of the leaves turn brown and dry out. The reason, most likely, is insufficient humidity in the room. Spray the plant and increase the humidity in the room.

The plant rots at the base. Probable Cause- waterlogging of the soil, and the room is too cold. Move the pineapple to a warmer and better ventilated area, dry the ground a little. If the rot spreads higher, the plant will die. Another cause of rot can be uncut top pulp that you planted in the ground when propagating pineapple tops.

Damaged

Macronutrients in pineapple:

Tags: How to grow pineapple

Pineapples are native to Brazil. Pineapples are a type of bromeliad. At home, they often contain decorative pineapple. Caring for such a pineapple is quite simple. Some of the varieties of pineapples can even bear fruit, but such fruits are not suitable for human consumption. What are the features of pineapple varieties and what should be the care for decorative types of pineapple at home, we will consider in this article.

The best varieties of pineapples

Large-tufted, crested or real pineapple (Ananas comosus) is a terrestrial herbaceous plant 0.6-1 m high and up to 2 m in diameter. Gray-green narrow leaves along the edge are planted with sharp spikes. The bases of the pineapple leaves of this species fit snugly against the short stem, forming a rosette. Grooved and succulent, covered with scales, they are protected from excessive evaporation of water and are most adapted to collecting rainfall, which is rare in arid climates.

Photo: Large-tufted, crested or real pineapple (Ananas comosus)

Each pineapple plant produces one peduncle emerging from the center of the rosette, at the end of which a dense inflorescence-cob is formed, consisting of bisexual lilac flowers arranged in a spiral. Flowering pineapple of this variety lasts 1-2 weeks. After it, a compact seed is formed, the main axis of which continues to grow and forms a rosette of leaves on the crown - a green "tuft" or "sultan".

There are many varieties of pineapple of this species, differing in fruit size, shape and taste. Golden-yellow seedlings of cultivated varieties of pineapple weigh up to 2 kg, are distinguished by high taste qualities.

AT indoor floriculture Especially popular are varieties of decorative pineapple with variegated leaves, for example, "Variegatus", - a wide white border along the edge of the leaf, red flowers and small pink fruits make it very attractive. Pineapple fruits of this species are small, 10 cm, and completely tasteless, purely decorative.

The leaves, even with slight shading, do not lose their variability, and in direct sunlight they show a pink tint. The rosette shape is compact, the length of the leaves in a pot culture usually does not exceed 45 cm. A similar variety of pineapple "Ivory Coast" has leaves with smooth edges, not prickly. And the form with Striata variability has bright yellow stripes and a pink border.

Description of decorative varieties of pineapple

Pineapple striped bract (tricolor) Ananas bracteatus striatus (tricolor). This type of pineapple does not have edible fruits, but bright green leaves with stripes (pink and cream). The length of the pineapple leaves of this species reaches 50-70 centimeters.

Photo: Pineapple striped bract (tricolor) Ananas bracteatus striatus (tricolor)

Pineapple motley large-tufted Ananas comosus variegatus. This is the kind of pineapple that is edible. It is related to those pineapples that we eat, but is an ornamental type of pineapple. And its leaves are not green, as we are used to seeing, but with stripes of pink and cream color. This is a very compact type of large-tufted pineapple.

Photo: Large-tufted pineapple Ananas comosus variegatus

Brilliant pineapple (A. lucidus variegated) is called "Black pineapple". The middle of the leaf of this variety of pineapples is orange-red, contrastingly set off by the dark brown-green edge of the leaf. Has no sharp spines.

Photo: Brilliant pineapple (A. lucidus variegated)

Pineapple dwarf (A. nanus) - miniature view with leaves up to 25 cm long. They are soft and not prickly, green in the shade and blushing in the sun. The pinkish fruit is edible, but very small, only 5 cm. Pineapple of this species tolerates slight shading.

Seed pineapple (A. sativus) is grown in Taiwan and the Philippines to obtain a shiny and transparent pineapple tissue (from the English pineapple, which means pineapple). This fabric was chosen by many well-known fashion designers for its decorative effect and special strength.

Caring for Ornamental Pineapple Species

temperature required for care ornamental varieties pineapple: in winter -15-18 degrees C, in summer -22-25 degrees C.
decorative types of pineapples are photophilous. Their variegated leaves with light stripes need a bright place so that the brightness of the color does not fade. Grow well on southern, western and eastern windows.
pineapples should be sprayed regularly, especially if the room is very warm.
water for irrigation is needed at room temperature, it must settle. Decorative varieties of pineapple are watered into a rosette of leaves. Water should fill about 2/3 of the outlet. In summer and spring, water should always be in the outlet. You need to change the water 1-2 times a month. Also at this time (summer and spring), the plant must be fertilized 2 times a month. The fertilizer is poured into the rosette of decorative pineapple leaves, pre-diluted with irrigation water. In winter, pineapple should be carefully watered into the soil once a week.
plants that do not bloom must be replanted after a year, and only after flowering are transplanted daughter rosettes that grow near the main plant. The soil for caring for ornamental varieties of pineapples should be specially purchased, suitable for these types of plants, or prepared independently (3 parts of soddy land and 1 part of humus with the addition of sand). For transplanting, it is good to take not a deep, but a wide bowl.
these types of pineapples reproduce by lateral shoots and seeds. Seeds are sown in prepared loose soil. Side shoots are cut when they grow roots.

As it became known, despite the types of pineapples, they should be cared for almost the same way in order to get juicy and sweet fruits that give many useful substances and trace elements.

A few years ago, in a losing weight environment, one could observe a “pineapple boom”. The fruit was credited with miraculous fat-burning properties. In the hope that after a hearty meal you can eat a piece of pineapple and melt the fat accumulated over the years, people enthusiastically began to use the overseas fruit in fresh, in teas, extracts, capsules. But alas and ah, the illusions were in vain and the miracle did not happen. What is this exotic fruit really like, what effect does it have on the process of losing weight and how many calories in pineapple?

The calorie content of pineapples is not high. There are 49 calories in 100 g of fresh pineapple. The same number of calories contains a red apple, pear. 100 g of pineapple are three rings 4-5 mm thick.

It is possible to determine the calorie content of one fruit only empirically. There are about 80 varieties of pineapples in the world. All of them are united by the shape of the fetus. But the weight of one fruit can range from 500 g to 4 kg. To assess the degree of maturity of a pineapple, it is worth looking closely at the foliage. Ripe fruit leaves are thick, green and easily torn off. The peel should be slightly soft, but elastic.

The calorie content of pineapple in a jar is slightly higher compared to fresh. This is due to the addition of sugar during the preservation process. Canned pineapple has about 60 calories. The numbers may vary depending on the manufacturer and recipe. Canned pineapple satisfies hunger well and has a low calorie content, so it can be present in the diet menu. But it is worth remembering that during canning, the fruit loses most of its useful properties.

Dried pineapple loses a significant amount of moisture during cooking, but retains some of its beneficial properties. The dried product has 255 calories. Candied fruits are less nutritious and contain 215 kcal.

Beneficial features

It is 86% water, 12% monosaccharides and disaccharides, 1% ash, 1% dietary fiber. The vitamin and mineral composition is represented by vitamins C, P, group B, magnesium, iron, thiamine, copper, calcium, iodine. Fresh pineapple is useful for anemia, anemia. The fiber content improves the functioning of the digestive system. Regular consumption of pineapple promotes blood thinning, prevents blood clots, normalizes and lowers blood pressure, cleanses the body of toxins and toxins. The fruit contributes to the rapid digestibility of protein products and helps to get rid of the feeling of heaviness in the stomach after feasts.

What is bromelain

Pineapple is loved not only for its taste, aroma, and beneficial properties. The fruit owes its popularity to the presence of bromelain, a catalytic enzyme. Bromelain has long been promoted in advertising campaigns as a means of breaking down fats. Manufacturers of bromelain assured that 1 g of bromelain could break down 900 g of fat and 1 g of the enzyme was equivalent to 20 kg of fresh pineapples.

In fact, the properties of bromelain have long been studied and the substance is not able to break down fat molecules. Bromelain has a catalytic effect on protein metabolism. In other words, it promotes the breakdown of proteins, improves their absorption into the digestive tract. This property of bromelain is useful for people who are working on building muscle mass. As for fats, bromelain breaks down lipid transit waste, which the body safely removes naturally.

The benefits of bromelain for weight loss have not been proven. Numerous studies have confirmed the immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Bromelain has a strong effect on the mucous membranes and skin. Workers who harvest pineapples on plantations, regardless of high temperature air, are forced to wear special clothing to protect themselves from skin damage. The amount of bromelain in the pulp of pineapple is negligible, most of the substance is concentrated in the hard core. Bromelain is found not only in pineapple, but also in kiwi, papaya.

Pineapple for weight loss

Pineapple is successfully used in dietetics. Low calorie content, a range of useful properties, good taste make the product desirable in the diet menu. Fruits saturate well, dull hunger. Due to the content of potassium, the fruit has a mild laxative effect and promotes excretion excess fluid from the body and waste.

Some nutritionists do not recommend combining pineapple with fats, because the fruit speeds up the absorption and digestion of food. An incorrectly compiled pineapple diet menu can lead not to the loss of extra pounds, but, on the contrary, to a set.

Excessive passion for pineapple can lead to irritation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, tongue, cracks in the corners of the mouth and damage to tooth enamel.

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A pineapple

Types of pineapple

There are the following types of pineapple.

Pineapple large-tufted(Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.s)

Synonym: Pineapple pineapple (Ananas ananas (L.) Voss); A. duckei (Ananas duckei hort., nom. Inval); A. sativus (Ananas sativus Schult. & Schult. f.); A. sowing diff. dukei (Ananas sativus var. duckei Camargo, nom. nud.); Pineapple bromeliad (Bromelia ananas L) Large crested bromeliad (Bromelia comosa L). At this plant there is a strongly rooted stem, on which there is a rigid rosette with linear xiphoid leaves, the height of an adult plant is approximately 1 m, and up to 2 m in diameter. The foliage of the plant has a gray-green color, the leaves are grooved in shape towards the top of the leaf, strongly narrowed, the leaves are covered with scales, which are narrowed at the ends with rather sharp spines. The plant blooms with bisexual flowers, which are about 8 cm long, 4 cm wide, the flowers are spirally arranged in simple dense spike-shaped inflorescences, where they sit in the axils of wide cup-shaped bracts. Petals on flowers, usually sepals, do not grow together, slightly prickly at the edges, pinkish-purple in color, their length is about 1-2 cm. The main axis continues to grow at the top of the fruit, which has a slightly shortened vegetative shoot - "Sultan". Flowering occurs in March, April, July, December; infructescence matures in about 4.5-5 months. The plant comes from Brazil, in Europe this plant culture appeared in 1650. One of the most striking forms of variegatus, has a difference in size, i.e. smaller than usual, and also distinguished by white longitudinal stripes on the edges of the sheets.

Pineapple bracts

(Ananas bracteatus (Lindl.) Schult. & Schult. f.)

This view is considered one of the most beautiful. The leaves are curved, have a bright green color with yellow and white stripes, the length of the leaves is from 35 to 70 cm.

Pineapple pygmy

(Ananas nanus (L. B. Sm.) L. B. Sm.)

Synonym: A. pineapple diff. dwarf (Ananas ananassoides var. nanus L. B. Sm.). This type of pineapple is considered a new dwarf variety, the average size leaves about 20-30 cm.

Pineapple seed

(A.savitus Schult)

This variety is not usually bred for ornamental purposes, most often this plant is grown out of simple curiosity. Many practice growing pineapple from the upper tuft of the seed after the seed itself has been eaten, but here the risk of failure is quite high.

cayenne

This variety is considered the oldest, it is quite common, for example, in Cuba, the Hawaiian Islands, India and Australia, as well as in other countries of the tropical zone. There are no spines on the leaves of this variety, the color of the pulp is pale yellow, the shape of the fruit is cylindrical. The nutritional quality of this variety is very high. This variety is distinguished by its resistance to various diseases in pineapple. The root system of the plant is usually small. Scientists believe that it is this variety that is the ancestor of all pineapple crops; it was grown by the ancient Indians.

red spanish

It is resistant to root rot.

How much does one pineapple weigh?

This is a fairly powerful plant, there are thorns on the sheets. The fruits are spherical, round, the pulp is fibrous, the taste is sour, the sugar content of the fruits is medium. This variety is well known in the SOUTH.

Queen

This variety belongs to early ripening, the leaves on the plant are hard and rather prickly. The pulp is not fibrous, has a dark yellow color. The main disadvantage of the variety is the small size of the fruit. The variety is well distributed in Australia and South Africa.

Pineapple is neither a fruit nor a vegetable! We will teach anyone how to grow it yourself

Pineapple is a species of herbaceous plant in the bromeliad family. The advantage grows in tropical countries.

Pineapple is not only delicious, but also an extremely healthy fruit.

How many calories in fresh pineapple (1 pc.)

It contains a huge amount of vitamin C and antioxidants that can prolong youth and give vitality. At the same time, pineapple has a low calorie content (only 14 kcal per 100 grams).

This plant is known from long time ago. In the 12th century, the local population of the countries of South and Central America, including the Caribbean islands, collected wild pineapples, grew them on their own, making medicinal tinctures, wine from the fruits, and fabrics from the leaves. The main difference between cultivated pineapples was the absence of seeds in them.

In the 14th century, expedition members led by Columbus brought pineapple to Europe for the first time. The fruit was to the taste of many people, attempts were made to grow it. However, all attempts were unsuccessful.

The first successful attempt to grow in greenhouse conditions The fruit belongs to the English Duchess of Cleveland in the second half of the 17th century, who presented the fruit to King Charles II.

He liked pineapple, and after that, mass cultivation of this fruit in royal greenhouses began in England.

If in the Middle Ages pineapple was a luxury and was an indicator of status, today this fruit has become affordable for many people. And interestingly, for its cultivation it is not at all necessary to use greenhouses and other structures. It is quite possible to grow indoor pineapple at home.

Information

Description of the fruit

Tropical America gave the whole world such a wonderful fruit as pineapple. This herbaceous plant belongs to the Bromeliad family. Ananas comosus is the most famous fruit crop that is cultivated in all known tropical plantations.

Many people think that pineapple fruits grow on palm trees, but this is a big mistake. Pineapple is a terrestrial plant that has sharp, long leaves. The length of an adult plant reaches no more than 1.5 meters and 2 meters in diameter.

The dense cover of pineapple leaves has a thick layer of epidermis. Thanks to the epidermis, during rains, the plant accumulates the moisture it needs. A peduncle is formed from the basal crown (or rosette), which has a length of up to 35-65 cm. The peduncle, in turn, produces a fetal rosette, which we see on pineapple fruits in stores.

Pineapple bloom lasts about a month. Flowers bloom gradually: bottom row, middle, top. Such a seed, after a full cycle of fertilization, forms the fruit of a plant that looks like a large pine cone.

How much does a pineapple weigh?

The fruit has an ellipsoidal shape, covered with scales on top.

Beneficial features

Having a large set of trace elements and vitamins, pineapple is rightfully considered one of the most useful fruits. Vitamins such as: A, C, B1, B2, B3 - strengthen the human immune system. Contained macronutrients in the fruit of pineapple: potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium - contribute to the development and strengthening of bone tissue.

Pineapple fruit normalizes blood pressure, thins the blood and has a beneficial effect on the circulatory system. Eating pineapple in food can prevent the development of the following diseases: pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, stroke, heart attack, thrombosis.

More recently, it has become known that bromelain fiber, which is contained in pineapple, helps to cope with extra pounds. Pineapple juice is useful for poisoning the body. Bromelain breaks down proteins, neutralizes toxins and toxins, and removes them from the body.

Harmful properties

When eating pineapple fruits, it should be taken into account that the acidity of gastric juice will certainly increase. People who suffer from heartburn, have various stomach ailments, should consult their doctor before eating pineapple.

Pregnant women should use this fruit very carefully. Pineapple stimulates the growth of muscle tissue, therefore, pregnancy can suddenly end.

The history of Europeans' acquaintance with pineapples begins in 1493, when the Spaniards, who landed in Central America, discovered previously unknown juicy fruits on the islands.

A little later, the candied pulp and the pineapples themselves were sent to the Old World, where the sweet and sour taste of the outlandish delicacy was to the taste of the crowned persons and the nobility.

Within a few decades, pineapples were brought to Asian and African colonies, where the local climate was very suitable for a tropical plant. At the same time, the cultivation of the crop was established in South and Central America, as well as in European greenhouses and greenhouses.

It is obvious that the desire to get sweeter, larger and juicy fruits existed at that time. Therefore, the ancestors of modern pineapple varieties appeared already in the 18th century, and at the beginning of the 20th century, work on the selection of tropical fruits was in full swing.

This was facilitated by the creation of large companies involved in the cultivation of pineapples and their processing. The research center was a specialized institute for the study of pineapple, located in Hawaii.

And plantings have spread to the southern states of the United States, including Florida.

Since then, cultural pineapples have changed dramatically, as not only has the weight of individual fruits increased, but people have learned to get fruits containing less acids and more sugars.

But at the same time, all varieties of pineapple grown on plantations in Costa Rica, the Philippines, Ghana, the USA, Vietnam or Australia are plants belonging to the genus Ananas comosus var. comosus.

Ananas comosus var. comosus

Like other varieties, large-tufted pineapple is a perennial herbaceous plant from the bromeliad family, and the fruit beloved by many is a juicy fruit, which, depending on the species and variety, may have different shape, dimensions and weight. If fruits weighing up to 10 kg ripen on plants of the Giant Q variety, 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 pineapple varieties. These are Smooth Cayenne, Spanish, Queen, Abacaxi and Pernambuco. Since selection work is ongoing, in addition to these classes, other varieties and varieties appear.

Group of varieties of pineapples "Smooth Cayenne"

The first, most extensive group of "Smooth Cayenne" is mostly plants grown in Hawaii and Honduras.

Also exotic fruits pineapples with characteristic features belonging to this varietal group can be found in the Philippines and Cuba, on the plantations of South Africa and in Mexico.

Smooth Cayenne plants have a short stem, on which, gradually turning yellow from the bottom to the rosette, fruits weighing from 1.5 to 3 kg ripen. The pulp of pineapple is dense, light yellow, with a high content of both acids and sugar, which gives the taste of the fruit some sharpness.

Often the harvest from plants of this varietal group goes not only for fresh sale, but also for the manufacture of canned fruits.

Not surprisingly, up to 90% of the world's canned fruits are produced from the varieties included in the group.

Compared to other cultivars, Smooth Cayenne pineapples take longer to develop and can be attacked by common crop pests and diseases.

The Cayenne varietal group includes many independent varieties:

Baron de Rothschild;
G-25;
Domingo;
Gaimpew;
Maipure;
Sarawak;
La Esmeralda;
Hilo;
Champaca;
Amritha;
MD-2.

At the same time, plants and fruits of different varieties included in the same group can differ strikingly from each other.

For example, Champaka pineapple, which produces edible but truly dwarf fruits, is grown as houseplant.

And Kew pineapples are giants weighing from 4 to 10 kg, which grow only on plantations.

Among the varieties of this extensive group, one can single out Amritha pineapples with prickly pointed leaves and cylindrical, tapering to the bottom fruits weighing from 1.5 to 2 kg.

From the moment of planting to the flowering of a plant of this pineapple variety, 13-15 months pass. The variety is distinguished by the formation of a small compact rosette at the top of the fruit.

The exotic fruit itself, pineapples, when unripe, have a smooth green color that changes to yellow when the fruit is ready to be cut.

The thickness of the bark reaches 6 mm, and the pale yellow flesh underneath is dense, crisp, without noticeable fibers. Amritha pineapple stands out for its low acidity and rich aroma.

Almost 50% of the world market of fresh pineapples comes from the MD-2 variety, which, according to experts, is considered to be the standard for the international market.

Cultivation of the pineapple variety in Central and South America began in 1996, and during this time the plants have shown that they can bear fruit consistently. High quality fruits have:

high sugar content;
smooth cylindrical shape;
low acid content;
average weight from 1.5 to 2 kg.

MD-2 fruits are distinguished by a very long shelf life of up to 30 days, which makes it possible to transport exotic pineapple fruits over long distances without loss of quality.

And yet the plant can not be called perfect. MD-2 is more susceptible to rot and late blight than the Kew pineapple variety.

Group of varieties of pineapples "Spanish"

The second group of pineapple varieties is called "Spanish". Red Spanish pineapples are actively grown in Central America. The main crops are obtained in Puerto Rico. Typically, such fruits, mainly for export, weigh 1-2 kilograms.

Beneath the hard, reddish rind, from which the group derives its name, lies a pale yellow or almost white flesh with a mild flavor and rather fibrous structure compared to cayenne varieties.

When cut open, a Spanish pineapple appears almost square.

The Spanish group includes varieties:

pina blanca;
Red Spanish;
Cabezona;
Canning;
Valera Amarilla Roja;

Plants of these and other varieties included in the group delight with fruits weighing from 1 to 10 kg, and these are mainly table pineapples, slightly inferior in taste to dessert varieties. This is expressed in a tougher 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 rosette consists of small leaves decorated with spines along the edge. The weight of such a fruit on average does not exceed 1.5 kg, and the flesh strikes with a bright yellow color.

Gourmets note that when comparing African and South American pineapples, it is difficult to give preference to one or another fruit. This is due to the dissimilarity of taste.

Pineapples from South Africa are not as sweet, but their acidity is lower than that of varieties native to the American continent.

The best Natal Queen pineapples with almost orange dessert flesh are grown in South Africa.

Group of large-tufted pineapples "Abacaxi"

Under the single group name Abacaxi, varieties are combined, with light or almost white juicy pulp that does not have signs of lignification. The most famous varieties here are:

Kona Sugarloaf;
Black Jamaica;

Most of the Sugarloaf pineapple plantings are in Mexico and Venezuela. The fruits are low in acid, high in juiciness and sweetness. The mass of such a pineapple can range from 1 to 2.7 kg.

In addition to the listed groups and varieties, there are many others of regional importance.

For example, Australia has been conducting its own selection work for 150 years, based on experiments that began in the 19th century in England.

Also known is the Pernambuco pineapple variety of Brazilian origin. Despite the fact that these pineapples do not store very well, they are in demand due to their high sugar content and excellent quality of small portioned fruits.

In Asia, varieties of local selection are common, which include Thai pineapples Tard Sri Thong and Sriracha, the Mauritius variety from India, as well as the extremely popular Baby dwarf pineapples, which are distinguished by uniform juicy and very sweet pulp.

Mini pineapples or Baby forms fruits only 10–15 cm high.

The diameter of such a crumb is about 10 cm, but with a modest size, the taste of a miniature fruit is in no way inferior to a large one.

At the same time, 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-tufted pineapple in terms of sweetness and fruit size, these plants are in demand and are grown for low-alcohol drinks, fiber, as well as ornamental and houseplants.

First of all, the following varieties of Ananas comosus act in this capacity:

ananassoides;
Erectifolius;
Parguazensis;
Bracteatus.

Ananas comosus var. bracteatus

The subspecies, also known as the red pineapple, is a native South American plant. Even today, wild-growing specimens of this variety can be found in Brazil and Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Ecuador.

Plants about a meter tall are distinguished by a bright color that combines stripes of almost white and dense green. The leaves are decorated with sharp thorns along the edge.

If the pineapple of this subspecies is grown in a well-lit place, then pink tones begin to predominate in the color of its rosette and fruits.

It is thanks to this feature that the plant got its name.

The flowering of red pineapple is practically no different from how other subspecies of Ananas comosus bloom. And the fertility of plants is much higher than that of large-tufted pineapple.

By virtue of unusual look foliage and brightness of the whole plant, Ananas bracteatus is an ornamental pineapple grown for its small red fruits. In the garden, plants can be used as a hedge or in flower beds, and in the house, a red pineapple will decorate any interior.

Ananas comosus var. ananassoides

Pineapples of this variety are also indigenous inhabitants South America namely Brazil, Paraguay and Venezuela.

In tropical areas and in the east of the Andes, plants with a height of 90 to 100 cm are quite common both in savannah conditions, where there is a lack of moisture, and in shady, humid forests along riverbeds in Guiana and Costa Rica.

This subspecies of wild-growing pineapple is widespread, and its dwarf fruits attract the attention of gardeners and lovers of indoor crops to the plant.

A distinctive feature of the decorative pineapple is the almost complete absence of a 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, elongated cylindrical infructescences are formed on thin flexible stalks. The flesh inside is white or yellowish, fibrous, sweet with small brown seeds.

Ornamental pineapple varieties erectifolius and parguazensis

A bright large variety of pineapple, like other representatives of the genus, is a native of South America and is found in a number of countries in the region. Although mini pineapples ripening on plants have no commercial value, the crop is actively grown in gardens and indoors.

There are several varieties of pineapples of this subspecies, the most popular of which is the “Chocolate” presented in the photo.

Pineapple subspecies parguazensis is not very common.

Most of the wild population is found in Colombia, northern Brazil and Venezuela, Guyana, and the plant is also found in French Guiana.

Flowering and growth of pineapple at home - video

Source: http://www.glav-dacha.ru/vidy-i-sorta-ananasov/

Exotic fruits: photos and names, description, rating of the most delicious

Having arrived in a distant warm country for the first time, many tourists and travelers are faced with an abundance of exotic fruits, even the names of which they have never heard.

To help you figure out what kind of “fruit” these are, we have prepared the most complete review of exotic fruits so that you can decide what to buy and try, or what to do with what you have already bought.

From the photo, you can determine what kind of unknown fruit is in front of you, read the description, taste, ripening seasons, as well as how to cut and eat it.

And if you have already tried any of these fruits, you can vote for your favorite ones, or write a review about them on the forum. You can see the results of ania on this page on the right, and for mobile devices, see the rating of exotic fruits here.

Lychee

Litchi (Litchi, Chinese plum, Litchi).

Round red fruit, up to 4 cm in diameter. Wonderful, delicious fruit. It has one bone in the middle.

Similar to Longon in shape, texture and stone, but with a richer taste and aroma. Very juicy, sweet, sometimes sour.

The peel is easily separated from the white-transparent pulp.

Unfortunately, fresh Lychee can not be consumed all year round: the Lychee harvest season begins in May and lasts until the end of July. During the rest of the year it is almost impossible to find it.

During the off-season in Asia, canned lychees can be purchased in jars or plastic bags in their own juice or coconut milk.

Ripe fruits keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You can freeze and store in the freezer for up to 3 months peeled fruits.

Lychee contains many proteins, pectins, potassium, magnesium and vitamin C.

A very high content of nicotinic acid - vitamin PP, which actively prevents the development of atherosclerosis.

The widespread prevalence of Lychee in Southeast Asian countries is the reason for the low level of atherosclerosis in this region.

Rambutan

Rambutan (Rambutan, Ngo, "hairy fruit").

Round fruits of red color, up to 5 cm in diameter, covered with soft processes like thorns. The pulp covering the stone is a transparent white elastic mass, with a pleasant sweet taste, sometimes with a sour tint. The stone is quite tightly connected to the pulp, and is edible.

Contains carbohydrates, protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, nicotinic acid and vitamin C. Fruits have a short shelf life - three weeks in the refrigerator.

Harvest season: May to October.

It is cleaned by cutting the peel with a knife, or without using a knife, as if twisting the fruit in the middle.

Rambutan is eaten fresh, cooked jams and jellies, canned.

mangosteen

Mangosteen (Mangosteen, mangosteen, mangosteen, garcinia, mankut).

The fruit is about the size of a small dark purple apple. Beneath the thick, inedible skin is the edible pulp in the form of garlic cloves.

The pulp is sweet with sourness, very tasty, not like anything else. Generally pitted, although some fruits have small, soft pits that can be eaten.

The peel of the mangosteen, when opened, releases purple juice, which is not washed off.

Sometimes there are sick fruits of Mangosteen, with a dark creamy, sticky and unpleasant-tasting pulp. Such fruits are almost impossible to identify until you open them.

Sometimes you can identify such bad fruits by touch: their peel is hard and dry, like wood, while in normal fruits it is slightly soft, pliable.

The harvest season is from April to September.

Natural biologically active substances contained in mangosteen reduce inflammatory reactions: swelling, soreness, redness, high temperature.

Eye of the Dragon

Dragon's eye (pitahaya, pitaya, moon yang, dragon fruit, pitaya).

These are the fruits of a cactus. The dragon's eye is the Russian version of the name of this fruit. The international name is Dragon Fruit or Pitahaya.

Rather large, oblong fruits (palm-sized) red, pink or yellow on the outside.

Inside the pulp is white or red, dotted with small black seeds. The pulp is very tender, juicy, slightly sweet, with an unexpressed taste.

It is convenient to eat with a spoon, scooping out the pulp from the fruit cut in half.

The dragon's eye is useful for stomach pain, diabetes or other endocrine disease.

Harvest seasons are all year round.

durian

Durian

King of fruits. The fruits are very large: up to 8 kilograms.

A fruit famous all over the world for its smell. Almost everyone has heard of it, some have smelled it, and very few have tasted it. Its smell is reminiscent of the smell of onions, garlic and worn socks.

With this fruit, because of its smell, it is even forbidden to enter hotels, transport and other public places.

To remind you of the ban in Thailand, for example, they hang out signs with a crossed-out image of a fruit.

The sweet pulp of the fruit has a very delicate texture, and does not correspond at all bad smell. Moreover, freshly cut fruit almost does not smell, and an unpleasant odor appears only after 15-20 minutes due to the large amount of sulfur in the pulp.

You should try this fruit, if only for the reason that many have heard about it, but few dare to try it. But in vain. The taste is very pleasant, and the fruit itself is considered the most valuable fruit in Asia. It is very high in calories and healthy.

Durian also has a reputation as a powerful aphrodisiac.

Sold cut (into slices) and packed in polyethylene. In supermarkets, you can find very interesting sweets with the taste and smell of Durian.

Sala

Sala (salak, rakum, snake fruit, snake fruit, sala)

Oblong or round fruits of small size (about 5 cm long) red (Rakum) or brown (Salak) in color, covered with dense small spines.

Fruit with a very unusual, bright sweet-sour taste. Someone reminds a persimmon, someone a pear. It is worth trying at least once, and then how you like it ...

You should be careful when peeling the fruit: the spines are very dense and dig into the skin. It's better to use a knife.

The season is from April to June.

carambola

Carambola (Starfruit, Kamrak, Ma Phyak, Carambola, Star-fruit).

"Star of the tropics" - in the context of the shape we represent an asterisk.

Fruit with an edible peel, eaten whole (there are small seeds inside). The main advantage is a pleasant smell and juiciness. The taste is not particularly distinguished by anything - slightly sweet or sweet and sour, somewhat reminiscent of the taste of an apple. Sufficiently juicy fruit and perfectly quenches thirst.

Sold all year round.

People with severe kidney failures are not recommended to consume Carambola.

Longan

Longan (Lam-yai, Dragon's Eye).

Small fruits, similar to small potatoes, covered with a thin inedible skin and one inedible bone inside.

The pulp of Longan is very juicy, has a sweet, very aromatic, taste with a peculiar touch.

The season is from July to September.

Longkong/Langsat

Longkong (Longan, Longcon, Langsat, Lonngkong, Langsat).

Longkong fruits, like Longan, are similar to small potatoes, but are slightly larger in size and have a yellowish tint. It is possible to distinguish Longan if you peel the fruit from the peel: peeled, it looks like garlic.

They have an interesting sweet and sour taste. Fruits Rich in calcium, phosphorus, carbohydrates and vitamin C. The burnt skin of the Longkong gives off a fragrant smell that is not only pleasant, but also beneficial, as it serves as an excellent repellant.

Fresh fruit can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 4-5 days. The skin of a ripe fruit should be dense, without cracks, otherwise the fruit will quickly deteriorate.

The season is from April to June.

Sometimes a variety is also sold - Langsat, which looks no different, but has a slightly bitter taste.

Jackfruit

Jackfruit (Eve, Khanoon, Jackfruit, Nangka, Indian Breadfruit).

Jackfruit fruits are the largest fruits growing on trees: their weight reaches 34 kg. Inside the fruit are several large sweet yellow slices of edible pulp. These slices are sold already peeled, because you yourself cannot cope with this giant.

The pulp has a sugary-sweet taste, reminiscent of melon and marshmallow. It is very nutritious: it contains about 40% carbohydrates (starch) - more than in bread.

The season is from January to August.

You can take the risk of bringing such a monster home as a whole, it is stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. But it is better to buy chopped and packed slices of pulp.

Important! Some people have an unhealthy reaction in the throat after eating Jackfruit - spasms, it becomes difficult to swallow. Everything usually passes in an hour or two. Maybe it's an allergic reaction. Be careful.

A pineapple

Pineapple (Pineapple).

Source: https://NashaPlaneta.net/fruits/fruits.html

Cultivated plant pineapple: photos of varieties, benefits, vitamins and medicinal properties of pineapple fruits

But from this healing properties pineapple has not run out - it still takes its place of honor among the most useful fruits.

The birthplace of the pineapple plant, a photo of its flowers and fruits

Pineapple is a genus of perennial evergreen herbs of the bromeliad family. The genus name comes from the transformed local South American name for this plant. In the Guarani language, it means "exquisite taste".

It combines 8 species distributed in Paraguay, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and also widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. There are 5 species distributed in Central and South America.

In Europe cultivated plant The pineapple was made famous by Christopher Columbus. Brazil is considered to be the birthplace of the pineapple plant. There, this perennial herbaceous plant still grows wild.

But the navigator met this wonderful fruit in Central America on the island of Guadeloupe during his journey in 1493. Pineapple was cultivated by the inhabitants of this island, Columbus was fascinated by the fruits, similar at the same time to cones and apples.

The name "pineaple", literally meaning "cone-apple" is still preserved in the English language.

Massively began to be grown in tropical countries from the 16th century. In Europe, from the middle of the 17th century, it began to appear in botanical gardens, greenhouses, and greenhouses.

At first, the exotic plant in Russia was treated with suspicion and distrust. At first, the fruits were even chopped and fermented in tubs like cabbage, and then sour cabbage soup and borscht were cooked from them. Later they began to be added to meat dishes.

Currently grown in many countries, including in greenhouses.

Unlike most plants of the bromeliad family, it grows in nature in the ground, receiving both water and nutrients from the ground.

As you can see in the photo, pineapple flowers are small, with large reddish bracts:

After flowering, they turn into a red or pink fruit.

It is cultivated as a purely ornamental houseplant, and if a small fruit appears on it, this is an additional reward to the owner.

The decorative properties of the plant are so high that they are considered by specialists in the design and decoration of rooms as an almost necessary component of modern room arrangements.

The benefits and composition of fresh pineapple, healing properties and contraindications

Since ancient times, pineapple has been used as a dessert with an exquisite taste and delicate aroma.

The medicinal properties of pineapple have been discovered relatively recently.

The composition of the fruit is rich in dietary fiber and vitamins, which allows us to consider this plant a valuable food source of useful nutrients. nutrients.

The benefit of fresh pineapple is that regular consumption of fruits reduces blood viscosity, which makes it possible to recommend it for the prevention of thrombosis and thrombophlebitis. A good effect is the use of hypertension, kidney disease and disorders of cardiovascular activity.

Such a property as the elimination of atherosclerotic plaques from the walls of blood vessels provides a highly effective prevention of myocardial infarctions and strokes.

Experts believe that regular consumption of fruits significantly reduces the occurrence of joint and muscle pain, and also stops the development of vascular atherosclerosis and pancreatic dysfunction.

Due to the high content of vitamins, the benefits of pineapple are invaluable in reducing the symptoms of inflammatory diseases, which include sinusitis, pyelonephritis, tonsillitis, pleurisy, pneumonia and some others. In addition, the use of this plant accelerates wound healing and stimulates digestive functions.

It is especially popular due to the presence of valuable dietary properties, which manifest themselves in a unique combination of beneficial nutrients and low calorie content. In this regard, the use of the fruits of this tropical plant widely used in many methods of weight loss.

The beneficial properties of pineapple are due to the composition of its fruits, in which the valuable substance bromelain is present.

In order for the effect of bromelain to be maximum in the body, it is recommended to consume the fruits on an empty stomach.

When ingested with food or after eating, bromelain increases the enzymatic activity of gastric juice and acts as a digestive enzyme.

Recent studies by scientists suggest that highly concentrated plant extracts can help in the treatment of cancer. The property of substances to bind free radicals can be a good prevention of cancer.

The juice extracted from the leaves of the plant is widely used among the peoples of India as an anthelmintic.

In addition to useful properties, pineapple also has contraindications: for example, with increased acidity of the stomach, gastritis and peptic ulcer, you should stop eating these fruits or fresh juice. Due to the acids present in it, irritation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines can occur.

Do not forget about the condition of the teeth.

Do not brush your teeth after drinking as this can damage weakened enamel. Cleaning can be done no earlier than an hour later.

For children under 6 years old, it is advisable to dilute fresh juice with water, due to increased concentration acids.

During pregnancy, the fruits should also be consumed with extreme caution. Immature or rotten fruits, according to some reports, have an abortive effect.

Do not drink juice made from spoiled fruits.

In addition, pineapple is a powerful allergen.

Royal and other varieties of pineapples

More than 60 varieties of pineapple are known, they differ in size, shape, color of seedlings, taste, aroma, presence or absence of fiber in the pulp and a number of other features. Many varieties are combined into varietal groups.

Cannara belongs to the group of Royal varieties, its fruits reach 1300-1600 g, are endowed with a pleasant aroma, have a slightly conical shape, fruit eyes are deeply planted, the fruit pulp has a pronounced golden yellow color, high acidity. Is good source carotene, vitamins and minerals.

The Smooth Cayenne group includes varieties: Maipuri, Q, Sarawak, Esmeralda, Claire, Typhoon, Saint-Michel.

Pineapples of this variety are widely cultivated in Hawaii, the Philippines, Australia, South Africa, Puerto Rico, Kenya, Mexico, Cuba and Formosa.

Fruit ovoid medium in size, reach from 1.5 to 2.5 kg of weight, rely on short and strong stalks. It ripens gradually, turning yellow from the base to the top.

The yellowness of the upper part of the pineapple means the fruit is fully ripe. The pulp of the fruit is dense, with a large texture, juicy with a yellow color at the end of the ripening period.

The Spanish group includes Spanish red, Pina blanca, Cabezona, Singapore, Canning, Valera. On average, the mass of these fruits is from one and a half to ten kg.

A number of varieties included in this group do not have thorns on the leaves. Table varieties, which are somewhat inferior to dessert varieties in taste.

However, they are not only canned, but also eaten fresh.

Variety Mauritius- one of the best, it is used for commercial cultivation, it is resistant to long-distance transportation. The fruits have good taste and are transportable.

To the Abacaxi group includes pineapples with white or almost white skin. In addition to the Abacaxi variety, these are the well-known varieties of Kona Sugarloaf, Black Jamaica and Montufar.

Also known are Brazilian Pernambuco with small fruits, the small and especially sweet Queen Victoria, pineapples with red and white fruits, very sweet dwarf Baby, Thai Tard Sri Thong and Sriracha, Indian Mauritius.

Amrota- hybrid. The pineapple plant of this variety has thorny leaves, the period from planting to fruit ripening is 13-15 months. The fruits are cylindrical, slightly tapering upwards, reaching a weight of 2 kg. The crown of this pineapple is quite small 80-100g.

The fruits turn yellow evenly when ripe. There are no recesses near the eyes, which makes it easy to clean. Fruits of a grade with soft pleasant aroma, skin thickness no more than 6 mm.

The pulp of the hybrid is dense, not fibrous, pale yellow in color with a rich aroma, has good taste with low acidity.

MD-2- a hybrid bred by a research institute in Hawaii. The bred variety took root and became widespread in the world.

MD-2 fruits have the ability to keep fresh when stored cold for up to two weeks.

It is a benchmark for the international fruit market due to its color, taste, shape, shelf life and degree of maturity. Industrial cultivation in various variations was started in Central and South America in 1996.

Most important qualities are: long shelf life and cylindrical shape, which are decisive for marketing purposes.

Instead of the standard 21 day shelf life for other varieties, MD-2 has a 30 day shelf life and is able to keep refrigerated for an additional two weeks.

This variety is usually imported from Costa Rica, Ghana, Cuba.

Decorative varieties very popular among landscape designers and landscapers. They have very beautiful flowers and reddish leaves. From the crest of any of the above types of pineapple, you can grow a new plant even at home.

Ananas) - a perennial herbaceous plant, belongs to the flowering department, the monocotyledonous class, the cereal order and the bromeliad family.

The homeland of pineapple is the arid plateau regions of Brazil, and the first Europeans who tasted the exotic fruit were members of the team of Christopher Columbus, who called the pineapple the most delicious on earth.

Is pineapple a berry or a fruit?

Many people ask the question, is pineapple a berry or a fruit? Or maybe it's a vegetable? In fact, pineapple is a grass (herbaceous plant), and scientists apply the names "tropical fruit" or "fruit" to it.

Pineapple - description, photo, structure

Pineapple is a rather thorny plant with exceptionally juicy and sweet-spicy fruits. Plant height varies from 60 to 100 cm. Pineapple leaves are of a succulent type and are able to accumulate moisture in their tissues, like. The length of individual leaves is 30-100 cm (in some species it can reach more than 2 meters). Numerous leaves are collected in a wide rosette, and in their axils there are many adventitious roots that absorb accumulated moisture. In pineapple leaves in large numbers there are fibers that give the leaves strength and elasticity.

The root system of the plant develops rather poorly. Basically, the roots of pineapple are buried in the soil by no more than 25-30 centimeters, and at the same time they cover a very small amount of soil.

At the growth point of a fully formed rosette, a long (up to 60 cm) flower shoot is formed. Pineapple flowers are bisexual, fused and located at the top of the flower shoot, they sit very often, forming a spiral. The flowers bloom in succession, about 10 flowers a day. The flowering period lasts about 3 weeks, after which a mini-fruit develops from each flower. The mini-fruits fused together are a whole pineapple fruit. When flowers are pollinated (for example, by birds), seeds are formed in them, but the presence of seeds in seedlings reduces their edible qualities. Therefore, in the industrial cultivation of pineapples, people try to avoid pollination.

Ready-to-eat pineapple fruit is very similar to a large golden brown cone. Inside the seed fruit there is a rather rigid axis, on the sides of which there are fruits, surprisingly juicy and tender, ending in the remains of keratinized flowers and covering leaves.

The average weight of a pineapple is about 2 kg, and its top is decorated with a crown (panicle of short leaves), which appears as the inner axis of the fruit grows.

Most pineapples grown in culture do not have seeds, and reproduction occurs with the help of tuft shoots that are easily detached and rooted. True, when crossed with some other varieties, the seeds still develop, and they can also be used to propagate the plant.

After the first pineapple fruit ripens, the plant produces side shoots that are used to vegetative propagation. Usually, the lateral processes are removed, after which the pineapple blooms and bears fruit a second time. After harvesting the second crop, the plant is uprooted, and a new one is planted in its place.

In the ripe pulp of pineapple, you can see small white blotches - ovules.

Also, the seed of pineapple is completely permeated with many conductive bundles - the main elements of the plant's conductive system.

Photo taken from the site: www.researchgate.net

An unripe pineapple has a rather pungent, lip-burning taste and is a powerful laxative.

Ripe pineapple has excellent taste and bright rich aroma. The pulp of a ripe fruit has a yellowish or white color.

Where do pineapples grow?

The homeland of pineapple is the Mato Grosso plateau, located between Brazil and Paraguay. It was from here, from South America, that the spread of this plant to other countries began several centuries ago. Today, pineapple is cultivated in the tropical and subtropical zones of both hemispheres. Various varieties Pineapples are grown in Thailand and the Philippines, China and the USA, Brazil, India and Vietnam, Hawaii and Cuba, Mexico, Taiwan, the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, Zaire and the Azores.

How do pineapples grow?

A pineapple plantation looks like an ordinary field with low bushes, but if you look closely and notice a fruit, fragrant and tasty pineapple on each plant, the picture becomes much more interesting and unusual. Many people think that pineapples grow on palm trees, but this is absolutely not true: everyone's favorite sweet fruit with a slightly tart taste grows just a few tens of centimeters from the ground. On plantations, pineapples are planted in two rows at a distance of one and a half to two meters between each plant. Agricultural technology is quite painstaking and labor-intensive: pineapples are weeded from weeds, soil is mulched, mechanized irrigation is carried out in case of severe drought, plants are treated from pests, and fertilizers are applied. Such scrupulous care of pineapples allows you to harvest up to 3 crops per year from one plantation.

The perennial plant pineapple spends the first months of its growth on the formation of a powerful leaf rosette. Only after 11-18 months (depending on the species) is the pineapple ready to bloom. It takes from three months to six months to form and ripen on the inflorescence of the fruit - this factor also depends on the species and variety.

The ripened fruit is cut off, after which the pineapple continues to grow only due to lateral shoots, since it loses the main growth point.

Types of pineapples, names and photos

Currently, the genus of pineapples includes 6 species (according to information from theplantlist.org website dated October 23, 2016):

Ananas ananassoides, or Ananas nanus
Ananas bracteatus - bract pineapple
Ananas comosus - real pineapple (large-tufted, crested)
Ananas lucidus - shiny pineapple
Ananas parguazensis - Pargvazensky pineapple
Ananas sagenaria

The following is a description of the types of pineapples:

a wild species of pineapple that grows in the forests and savannahs of Venezuela, Brazil and Paraguay. A feature of the species is the almost complete absence of a stem, leaves up to 2.4 meters long and reddish inflorescences. The total height of the plant is between 90 and 100 cm. The fruits of this type of pineapple can be elongated or spherical in shape, and the sweet pulp contains small brown seeds.

Pineapple bracts ( Ananas bracteatus)

a very beautiful type of pineapple with long (up to 1 meter), bright green, curved leaves, on the surface of which there are white and yellow stripes. In the sun, the leaves fade and take on pink and reddish hues. The tricolor variety of this pineapple, Ananas bracteatus tricolor, is used as a popular houseplant that can produce quite edible fruit. This type of pineapple grows in Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina.

Pineapple large-tufted, he is crested pineapple or real pineapple(Ananas comosus)

valuable fruit plant, cultivated in a number of states with a tropical climate. The height of a perennial plant with numerous gray-green leaves is 1-1.5 m and above. About 30 or more leaves appear on one plant. The length of the leaves of this pineapple reaches from 30 cm to 100 cm. The flowers are bisexual, the length of the flower is 8 cm, the width is 4 cm. They are arranged in a spiral in spike-shaped inflorescences. Usually, about 200 flowers appear on one plant, which, when combined, produce pineapple seedlings. The color of the flowers can be different: the color range varies from lilac and purple to pink and red. After the flowering of pineapple, a yellow seed is formed, on top of which there is a sultan - a rosette of narrow, long and jagged leaves along the edge. Seed fruit matures in 4.5-5 months. As a wild culture, it is found in Brazil and Paraguay, where it grows on forest edges and open places.

The Hawaiian Islands (30%) hold the lead in growing pineapples, Thailand, the Philippines, Brazil and Costa Rica are a little behind. The coarse leaves of Taiwanese and Philippine pineapples are suitable for the production of spinning fiber. The mass of pineapples, depending on the variety, ranges from 1.5 to 5 kg. One kilogram of juicy pulp contains about 86% water, 15 mg sucrose, 0.7 mg citric acid and up to 50 mg of vitamin C (about 120 mg in leaves).

Ananas lucidus )

a plant with bright, decorative, almost non-thorny leaves, up to 1 m long and 3.5 cm wide. The color of the leaves contains orange-red, brown and green shades, effectively contrasting with each other. Purple inflorescence petals. Pineapple sizes reach 12 cm in length and 5 cm in width. Small fruits contain tasteless highly fibrous pulp. This type of pineapple is common in Ecuador, Colombia and Peru, Guyana, northern Brazil and Venezuela.

Pineapple pargvazensky ( Ananas parguazensis)

a rare variety of pineapple, grows in Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana and northern Brazil. The plant is distinguished by miniature seedlings that are not of commercial interest, and is relatively soft leaves, forming luxurious sultans.

Ananas sagenaria

beautiful plant, used mostly as an ornamental. The inflorescences of this plant and crested pineapple are very similar, but the length of the leaves of this species reaches more than 2 meters in length. The fruits are edible, very beautiful, red in color, and due to the low sugar content, sour in taste. At home, the fruits are used to make wine, and from long leaves they extract fiber and make rugs, hammocks and even clothes. This type of pineapple grows in countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Paraguay.

Pineapple varieties

Almost all successfully cultivated pineapple varieties are the result of hybridization and breeding work. Varieties are usually divided into three groups depending on the characteristics of growth and biological characteristics:

Spanish group

The bred varieties (mainly table varieties) are distinguished by the complete absence of thorns on the leaves (or there are very few thorns). Plants are resistant to diseases, ripened fruits have a mass of 1.5 kg (for Spanish red pineapple) to 10 kg (for Cabezon pineapple), they tolerate transportation well, but are significantly inferior in taste to dessert varieties. Among the varieties of this group are the following:

Piña blanca;
Singapore;
Canning;
Cabezon;
Spanish red.

Queen (queen)

The leaves of these varieties of pineapples are painted in a pale green color, the leaf plates are short, dotted with tenacious spines. The mass of fruits is on average 1.3-1.5 kg. Popular varieties are:

McGregor;
Z-Queen;
Quinn.

cayenne

The varietal group includes plants with excellent taste and high yield. The rosette leaves are practically without thorns, the fruits have a mass of 1.5 to 3.5 kg, they perfectly tolerate transportation. Especially popular varieties of pineapples:

Fassaro (Selektsionny-25);
Baron Rothschild;
Santo Domingo;
Foulaya (Selektsionny-32-33).

Chemical composition of pineapple, vitamins and minerals

Apart from high content ascorbic acid (vitamin C), vitamins of group B, PP and provitamin A were found in pineapples. The pulp of ripe fruits also contains potassium, iron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese and iodine.

Pineapple pulp is rich in bromelain - a complex of enzymes that break down proteins, so they are better absorbed. Bromelain also has anti-inflammatory and immunocorrective properties. The highest concentration of bromelain is found in the hard core of pineapple.

The calorie content of pineapple is very low: only 52 kcal per 100 g of mature pulp, so it is often included in weight loss diets.