The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of planting dates and of floral induction age on phenology, harvest period, and production scheduling of 'Smooth Cayenne' pineapple, in the Cerrado of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The experiment was carried out at Tangará do Serra, MT, from november 2005 to september 2008. Six planting dates - January, March, May, July, September, November -, and five ages of floral induction - 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 months after planting -, in addition to natural flowering, were tested. The analyzed variables were: periods from floral induction to flowering, flowering to harvest, induction to harvest, and from planting to harvest; mass of fruit with crown and crown mass; and D leaf length. There was no interaction between planting dates and floral induction periods. Floral induction held in May and July, period with low temperatures and precipitation, promoted the elongation of plant cycle and lowered fruit mass and D leaf length. The induction held in September and November led to the harvest in seasons with favorable prices, regardless of the planting month, with no interference in fruit mass.
Ananas comosus var. comosus; planting seasons; floral induction; thermal sum
