Yield and Fruit Quality of Zaghloul Date Palms In Relation to Using New Technique of Pollination

摘要

During 2011 and 2012 seasons, Zaghloul date palms were pollinated through traditional method or via pollen suspensions at various concentrations (1.0, 2.0, 4.0 or 6.0 g pollens/I water) Pollens were mixed with 2 ml treacle + 2.0 g ascorbic acid + 1.0 g boric acid per each litre of water. Pollination was carried out throughout two days after female spathes cracking at the day time of afternoon by inserting ten fresh male strands / female spathe (traditional method) or with using the four investigated pollen suspensions. The study focused on the effect of this new technique of pollination on yield and fruit quality. Pollination with pollen suspensions containing 1.0 to 6.0 g pollens / litre of suspension caused a considerable promotion on the percentages of initial fruit setting and fruit retention %, yield, bunch weight as well as fruit weight and dimensions and flesh % in relative to pollination with traditional method. All chemical quality characters except total acidity% tended to reduce with carrying out pollination by pollen suspensions comparing with pollination by traditional; methods. In most cases, increasing concentration of pollens in the suspension from 4 to 6 g had no material effect on all the studied parameters. Carrying out pollination by spraying suspension of pollens containing 4.0 g pollens + 2 ml treacle + 2.0 g ascorbic acid + 1.0 g boric acid / 1 liter water through two day after female spathes cracking at the day time of afternoon was responsible for promoting yield and fruit quality of Zaghloul date palms. Therefore, the composting processes could be optimized by the application of the developed simulation model.