Investigation of biochemical traits and mineral element content in the Shahani date fruit under the influence of the foliar application of organic matter and micro-elements

Abstract

This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of foliar application of organic matter and microelements on the biochemical properties and mineral element content in the Shahani date fruit for two successive years. This was done in the form of randomized complete blocks with 14 treatments in three replications on 42 palms in Jahrom city. Treatments included control (spraying distilled water; amino acids at three concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 gL-1; Seaweed at three concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 gL-1; microelements at three concentrations of 0.1, 1.5, and 2.0 gL-1; four combined treatments obtained from different concentrations of amino acids, seaweed, and microelements. The treatments were applied in two stages (beginning and end of the Kimri stage) on the fruits. The results showed that the treatments had a significant effect on all studied traits except magnesium content in the fruits. The highest copper content in the fruit was observed for the treatment of microelements (2 gL-1) (1.63 mgkg−1), and the maximum levels of reducing sugar and total carbohydrates (59.60 and 61.84, respectively) were related to the seaweed treatment (0.75), and no significant difference was found with the combined treatment of amino acid + seaweed + microelements (T14), which was in the highest statistical class in the other traits. In general, this combined treatment with the lowest soluble tannin content (26.96) compared to the control (29.40) and other treatments and based on other biochemical traits and the mineral element content in the fruit was the most effective treatment, and its use is recommended to be achieve more desirable results.

Keywords

• Amino acid
• Seaweed
• Iron
• Zinc
• Manganese
• Time of foliar application