ABSTRACT

Pineapple is a monocot in the Bromeliaceae, one of the families of the order Poales, which also includes the grass family Poaceae. Pineapple grade standards, besides requiring a minimum sugar content and a good balance of sugars/acids, require the fruit to be true to type, of a uniform marketable size and shape. The crown leaves should be green and erect, and the crown size should meet a certain standard ratio to fruit size. The crown is normally left attached, as it adds to the unique appeal of the fruit. Pre-harvest causes of losses include physical injuries, sunburn, heat injury, animal damage, and disease. Postharvest losses are frequently associated with a lack of awareness, knowledge, and skills related to the management and handling of the fruit by handlers and marketers coupled with deficiencies in the handling infrastructure from the field to the retailer. Multiple crowns is a common disorder where more than one crown occurs on a fruit.