Effect of Accession and Drought Stress on Growth and Adaptability of Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) in Lowland Areas

Abstract : This research was conducted in the Greenhouse of the Agricultural Zone, Medan Baru, Kandang Limun, Muara Bangka Hulu Subdistrict, Bengkulu City. The study aimed to analyze the effect of different pineapple accessions (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) on the growth and adaptability of local pineapple under drought stress conditions. The experiment was arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two factors. The first factor was four pineapple accessions, and the second factor was the drought period, consisting of 15 and 30-day dry period. The results showed that the interaction between pineapple accessions and dry periods had a significant effect on shoot dry weight and stomatal density. Pineapple accession treatments had a significant effect on plant height, shoot fresh weight, and shoot dry weight. Dry period treatments significantly affected plant height and shoot dry weight. The results of the stress tolerance index (STI) at the 30-day dry period assessed during the vegetative stage indicated that pineapple accessions 19, 23, 24, and 25 all exhibited a similar level of drought tolerance and were classified as medium tolerant to drought stress.