GENETIC DIVERSITY OF PINEAPPLE (ANANAS COMOSUS) AND ITS POTENTIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH LEAF-FIBRE TRAITS: A REVIEW AND FIBRE CHARACTERIZATION IN MEGHALAYA

Abstract

Pineapple (Ananas comosus L.L. Merr.) is an important tropical fruit crop that generates substantial leaf biomass after harvesting. These leaves represent a potential source of lignocellulosic fibre for textile, paper, nonwoven and composite applications. Molecular-marker studies using simple sequence repeats (SSRs), inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have demonstrated the usefulness of DNA-based approaches for characterizing pineapple germplasm and identifying genetic redundancy. However, the relationship between pineapple genetic diversity and leaf-fibre quality remains insufficiently investigated, particularly for pineapple cultivated in Meghalaya. This paper reviews published evidence on pineapple genetic diversity and pineapple leaf fibre (PALF), compares reported literature values with fibre properties observations and identifies priorities for future research. Wang et al. (2017) reported polymorphic bands of 93.65% for ISSR and 96.50% for SSR markers in a collection of 36 accessions. Lin et al. (2015) identified 51 alleles using 16 SSR markers across 27 pineapple cultivars and lines. Zhou et al. (2015) validated 57 polymorphic SNP markers and identified duplicate groups within a collection of 170 accessions. A review by Asim et al. (2015) reported substantial variation in PALF mechanical properties, including tensile-strength values of approximately 413 1,627MPa across cited studies and cellulose contents commonly reported around 70–82%. Fiber properties include a tensile-strength value of 380 MPa, average fineness of 7.57denier, maximum fibre length of up to 92 cm and cellulose content of 77.7%. The available evidence does not establish a genetic–fibre association in Meghalaya. Integrating molecular characterization with standardized fibre measurements from the same identified plants is proposed as a pathway for future germplasm evaluation and sustainable utilization of pineapple leaves.