PQM-1: A newly developed superior clone of pineapple for northeastern India as evident through phenotype, fruit quality and DNA polymorphism

Queen is the most preferred table purpose variety in India. However, small fruit size, deep set eyes in large numbers and weak fruit stalk make this less preferred in processing industries. A completely different plant type with distinct fruit character was identified from a clonal population of Queen which seems to be a natural mutant. The identified mutant was maintained and multiplied through vegetative propagation at Lembucherra farm of ICAR Research Complex, Tripura centre. The present study clearly established the fact that this new clone (PQM-1) is distinct from 'queen' and other cultivars of Tripura. Distinctness of this new clone was confirmed on the basis of standard morphological and biochemical descriptors as well as through DNA polymorphism. It was observed that PQM-1 diverged from Queen in respect of pattern of vegetative growth, leaf shape, size and colour, flowering time, fruit shape, size and colour, eye shape, fruit weight, juice content, total soluble solid (TSS) and acidity. PQM-1 was found uniform at DNA level and complement the information of phenotypic and quality parameters by showing stable differences with Queen in ISSR banding pattern. Natural mutation in DNA level might be the probable cause of its origin. It could be empathetically stated that PQM-1 would have certain competitive advantage over all existing cultivars in this region due to its late maturity, fruit quality and usefulness in both canning and fresh consumption. This certainly would emerge as new alternative to pineapple growers of this region.