This study was carried out to evaluate the vegetative development of both pineapple plants 'Pérola' and 'Smooth Cayenne' under the edaphoclimatic conditions in Santa Rita county, in the state of Paraíba. Two experiments were conducted, being one for each cultivar, during the period from June 2003 to September 2004 and the sandy-textured 'Espodossolo Ferrocárbico' was used. The randomized block experimental design was used, with five treatments (evaluations at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 months after planting) and five replicates. The following variables were evaluated: plant height, both fresh and dry matter yield of the roots, stem and leaves and fresh matter of the leaf 'D' at the time of floral induction. According to the results, the plants of the Pérola cv. showed higher values for height (133 and 100cm), root fresh matter (263 and 255g) and dry matter (80 and 60g), stem fresh matter (310 and 200g) and dry matter (86 and 20g) relative to Smooth Cayenne cv. From the 8th month after planting, the accumulation of both fresh and dry matter of the leaves was intensified, being higher for Pérola cv., and followed the sequence: D>C>B>A. At floral induction time, the fresh matter values of the 'D' leaf in the plants of both cultivars were higher than 80g (118g for 'Pérola' and 81g for 'Smooth Cayenne'), therefore showing the possibility for anticipation of this practice.
Ananas comosus comosus; phenology; 'D' leaf; vegetative growth
