Pink Pineapple (Ananas comosus ‘Pinkglow’): History, Characteristics, USDA Zones & Cultivation

Botanical Classification:

  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Clade: Angiosperms
  • Clade: Monocots
  • Clade: Commelinids
  • Order: Poales
  • Family: Bromeliaceae
  • Genus: Ananas
  • Species: Ananas comosus
  • Cultivar: ‘Pinkglow’

The ‘Pinkglow’ pineapple is a cultivar of Ananas comosus, which belongs to the Bromeliaceae family, known for plants like bromeliads. This specific cultivar was created through genetic modification to alter the fruit’s color and flavor profile.

The origin of the Pink Pineapple can be traced back to Del Monte Fresh Produce’s research and development efforts in Costa Rica. While Ananas comosus is native to South America, particularly Brazil and Paraguay, the ‘Pinkglow’ cultivar was developed outside its native range through biotechnology. Del Monte undertook this project to innovate within the pineapple market by introducing a fruit with unique aesthetic and taste qualities. The cultivation of ‘Pinkglow’ primarily occurs in Costa Rica, where the climate is ideal for pineapples, ensuring high-quality production of this distinctive cultivar.

While pineapples have a long history of cultural significance, from being symbols of hospitality in colonial times to their use in local cuisines of tropical regions, the Pink Pineapple adds a modern twist. It’s not just a fruit but a novelty, garnering attention for its unique color and flavor, making it a subject of interest in culinary arts, social media, and as an exotic gift.

After receiving FDA approval for safety in the U.S., the Pink Pineapple was marketed as an upscale fruit, appealing to those looking for unique food experiences. It’s grown in limited quantities, contributing to its status as a luxury item.

Characteristics

  • Appearance: The Pink Pineapple looks identical to a regular pineapple on the outside, with its rough, brown exterior. It’s the inside that’s remarkable, featuring vibrant pink flesh instead of the typical yellow. This color comes from lycopene, the same pigment that gives tomatoes their red color.
  • Flavor: It’s described as having a sweeter, less acidic taste compared to traditional pineapples, which makes it appealing for both eating fresh and in culinary applications where a sweeter profile is desired.
  • Size: Similar in size to conventional pineapples, typically weighing between 2 to 3 pounds, though exact dimensions can vary.
  • Growth: Like other pineapples, ‘Pinkglow’ grows from a central rosette of long, spiky leaves, with the fruit developing at the center on a short stem. It requires the same tropical climate conditions for cultivation, including warm temperatures, high humidity, and well-drained, nutrient-rich soil.
  • Cultivation: The cultivation process involves genetic modification where the enzyme that usually converts lycopene to beta-carotene is suppressed, allowing the pink pigment to remain. This is done using RNA interference technology, maintaining the fruit’s nutritional profile while altering its color and taste.
  • Reproduction: While pineapples generally reproduce through their crowns, slips, and suckers, ‘Pinkglow’ pineapples are propagated in a controlled environment to maintain their genetic traits, usually not from seed to ensure consistency in the product.
  • Nutritional Benefits: The Pink Pineapple retains many of the nutritional benefits of traditional pineapples, including vitamins C and B6, manganese, and dietary fiber, with the added antioxidant benefits from lycopene.
  • Market and Use: Due to its novelty, the Pink Pineapple is often sold at a premium, used in high-end culinary dishes, for special occasions, or as a unique ingredient in cocktails and desserts.

Facts About ‘Pinkglow’ pineapple

  • Genetic Modification: ‘Pinkglow’ pineapples are genetically modified to inhibit the conversion of lycopene to beta-carotene, resulting in the pink flesh color. This is achieved through RNA interference, which silences the gene responsible for this conversion, allowing lycopene to accumulate, giving the fruit its pink hue.
  • Flavor Profile: Unlike the typical pineapple, ‘Pinkglow’ boasts a sweeter taste with less acidity. This makes it particularly appealing for fresh consumption or in recipes where a milder, sweeter pineapple flavor is desired.
  • Market Presence: Since its introduction, ‘Pinkglow’ has been marketed as a luxury fruit due to its unique color, flavor, and the novelty of its genetic modification. It’s often sold at a higher price point and is used in upscale culinary applications or as an exotic gift.
  • Impact: The creation and market introduction of ‘Pinkglow’ represent a significant moment in agricultural biotechnology, showing how genetic modification can be used to enhance aesthetic appeal, taste, and potentially nutritional value, while also sparking discussions about GMO foods in consumer diets.

USDA Zones

The Pink Pineapple, like all pineapples, does not fit into the USDA Hardiness Zone system in the traditional sense because it’s a tropical plant not suited for outdoor cultivation in most parts of the U.S. or similar climates. Pineapples, including ‘Pinkglow’, thrive in USDA Zones 10-12, where temperatures rarely drop below 30°F (-1°C), providing the warm, humid conditions they require. In these zones, they can be grown outdoors year-round. For areas outside these zones, ‘Pinkglow’ would need to be cultivated in controlled environments like greenhouses.

Cultivation

  • Site Selection: For outdoor cultivation, ‘Pinkglow’ pineapples require full sun, at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily, and a warm, humid environment. They do best in well-drained, sandy or loamy soils with good organic content. Indoors, they need similar conditions, with bright, indirect light if direct sun isn’t available, and high humidity.
  • Soil and Planting: Pineapples prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 4.5-6.5). When planting, ensure the soil is well-draining; a mix of peat, perlite, or sand with potting soil can be ideal for containers. For outdoor planting, raised beds or sandy, well-drained soil are recommended.
  • Watering: Pineapples need consistent moisture without being waterlogged. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, ensuring the soil remains damp but not overly wet. In cultivation, overhead watering should be avoided to prevent fungal diseases; drip irrigation is preferred.
  • Maintenance: Pineapples, including ‘Pinkglow’, are relatively low-maintenance once established. They require little pruning beyond removing any dead leaves. Pest control might involve dealing with mealybugs or scale insects, which can be managed with insecticidal soaps or neem oil.
  • Growth Rate: Pineapples grow slowly; from planting to fruit can take 18-24 months. ‘Pinkglow’ pineapples are usually propagated from the crowns of mature fruits or through tissue culture in commercial settings to maintain genetic traits.
  • Fruiting: ‘Pinkglow’ pineapples fruit once and then the plant dies, though it produces offsets or “pups” that can be replanted. The fruit’s unique pink color develops as it matures.
  • Pest and Disease Management: Watch for mealybugs, scale insects, and nematodes. Natural remedies like neem oil or insecticidal soaps can manage these pests. Good air circulation and avoiding wet foliage help prevent fungal diseases.

Propagation

  • From Crowns: The most common method for home gardeners is to use the crown (top part) of the pineapple. Here’s how:
    • Twist off the crown or cut it off, ensuring you have some fruit attached to help with rooting.
    • Strip off the lower leaves to expose about an inch of the base.
    • Let it dry for a few days to heal the cut surface.
    • Plant the crown in well-draining soil, leaving the leaves exposed. Keep the soil moist until roots develop, which can take several weeks.
  • From Slips and Suckers:
    • Slips are small plants that grow from the base of the fruit, while suckers grow from the base of the mother plant. Both can be removed and planted directly into soil or potted.
    • These methods are quicker than using crowns as they already have a developed root system.
  • Tissue Culture: For commercial production, especially to preserve the genetic traits of ‘Pinkglow’, tissue culture is used. This involves taking a small piece of plant tissue and growing it in a controlled lab environment with nutrients and hormones, eventually leading to numerous identical plantlets that maintain the desired characteristics. This method is not practical for home gardeners due to the need for specialized equipment and knowledge.
  • Pups: After fruiting, the mother plant will produce “pups” or offsets. These can be left to grow around the mother plant or removed and potted separately once they’ve developed enough roots, which can take 1-2 years.
  • Timing: Propagation should ideally occur during the warmer months to give new plants the best start, though with indoor cultivation, this can be more flexible.

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