Samani and zaghloul date palm cultivars (Phoenix dactylifera L.) productivity as influenced by different pollen sources and two hand pollination methods

摘要

This study was carried out during two successive seasons (1999 & 2000) at the Experimental Research Station, Fac. Agrc. Giza, Egypt. Pollen grains used in this trial were collected from eight region sources (Assiut, Aswan, New Valley, El-Maraziek, Helwan, Kerdasa, Giza and El-Fayoum) to pollinate Samani and Zaghloul date palm cultivars with two methods of hand pollination. The first method was 10 male strands inserted in the middle of female inflorescence. The second method was dusting the female inflorescence by 10 male strands. Results indicated that the first method increased retained fruit and bunch weight. Whereas, the second method increased fruit physical and chemical properties in both seasons. Also, all studied characters were significantly affected with different pollen sources used in this trial. Helwan pollen source gave the highest retained fruit and bunch weight while Aswan pollen source gave the best fruit quality in both seasons than other pollen sources. In addition, fruit physical properties (fruit weight, flesh weight, fruit dimensions, fruit circumference and fruit size) and fruit chemical properties (fruit dry weight percent, soluble solids content, total soluble sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars percent) was highestin both seasons with Aswan pollen when the second method was used on Samani and Zaghloul cultivars than other pollen sources.