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Technical Kisanखेती, तकनीक के साथ
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Pineapple (Ananas)All seasonsSucker / slip (international cultivar)Updated 6 September 2026

MD-2 (Super Sweet)

The cultivar that dominates the world fresh-pineapple export trade — very sweet, low in acid, high in vitamin C, uniform, with a long shelf life. Not an Indian release; an international selection now being taken up commercially in Kerala, the north-east and Andhra Pradesh for the premium and export market.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity periodPlant crop ~14–18 months
Expected yield55–75 t/ha under intensive management
Suitable soilWell-drained sandy loam or laterite, strongly acidic (pH 5.0–6.0); excellent drainage essential

Quick facts

Crop
Pineapple (Ananas)
Type
Sucker / slip (international cultivar)
Season
All seasons
Maturity period
Plant crop ~14–18 months
Expected yield
55–75 t/ha under intensive management
Suitable soil
Well-drained sandy loam or laterite, strongly acidic (pH 5.0–6.0); excellent drainage essential
Release
An international commercial cultivar (Del Monte "MD-2"), not an Indian release; being taken up commercially in India

About this variety

MD-2 (marketed as Super Sweet or Golden Sweet) is the pineapple cultivar that dominates the global fresh-fruit export trade. It is very sweet with low acidity, high in vitamin C, very uniform, and has a notably long shelf life and a bright golden shell. It is an international selection (developed from a Hawaii research hybrid), not an Indian variety, but it is now being planted commercially in parts of Kerala, the north-east and Andhra Pradesh for the premium domestic and export market. It is capital- and input-intensive: it needs excellent drainage, tight mealybug and ant control, and precise nutrition, but under intensive management it out-yields Kew.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeSucker / slip (international cultivar)
    MaturityPlant crop ~14–18 months
    Yield potential55–75 t/ha under intensive management
    Disease resistanceSusceptible to Phytophthora; needs very good drainage and mealybug control
    SoilWell-drained sandy loam or laterite, strongly acidic (pH 5.0–6.0); excellent drainage essential
    SeasonAll seasons

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

Plant crop ~14–18 months

Expected yield

55–75 t/ha under intensive management

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Major diseases

  • Susceptible to Phytophthora; needs very good drainage and mealybug control

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Very sweet, low acid, high vitamin C, uniform fruit with a long shelf life
  • The recognised cultivar for the fresh export and premium domestic market
  • Highest yield potential of any cultivar under intensive management

Things to consider

  • Capital- and input-intensive — needs excellent drainage, precise nutrition and tight pest control
  • Susceptible to Phytophthora; planting material can be costly and hard to source in India

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Kerala
  • Assam
  • Meghalaya
  • Andhra Pradesh