Enhancing Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera, L.) Productivity, Ripening and Fruit Quality Using Selected Male Palms

摘要

Egypt is one of the largest producers of dates with a total annual production estimated at 1.4 million tons. The effect of male pollinizers on fruit set; bunch weight and fruit physical and chemical characteristics was studied at a private orchard, located in kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt during 2012 and 2013 seasons. Fruit set, fruit weight, flesh weight, and bunch weight.were affected by the source of pollen, while fruit dimensions were not affected. Fruit set improved by 28.30% with pollen of male 1 (Meghal 1), whereas pollen of male 2 (Meghal 2) improved fruit set by 25.50%. Maximum weight of bunch, fruit and flesh were 20.50kg, 25.70g and 23.45g, respectively when bunches were pollinated with pollens of male (2). Using same pollens also resulted in maximum soluble solids content (SSC), vitamin C, total and reducing sugars were 32.89%; 7.75 mg/100g flesh weight, 28.51% and 20.01%, respectively; in addition to a reduction in fruit firmness and tannin content. Moreover, fruit reaches ripening stage twenty days earlier than bunches pollinated with pollens of male (2).