IMPROVING FRUIT SET, YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF KHADRAWI DATE PALM CULTIVAR

Abstract

This experiment was carried out during 2015 and 2016 experimental seasons to investigate the effect of spraying with moringa extract at 3%, garlic extract at 3% or ascorbic acid at 300 ppm on fruit set, yield and fruit quality of Khadrawi date palm cultivar. Anyhow, bunches were sprayed at three times (3 hours before pollination then 4 and 8 weeks after pollination). The present results indicated that spraying date palm bunches with moringa extract or garlic extract recorded the highest initial fruit set in the first and second seasons, respectively. As well as, moringa extract gave the highest fruit retention and yield in both seasons. In addition, all treatments improved some fruit physical characteristics i.e. fruit weight, flesh weight, fruit volume and fruit length compared to the control treatment in the two studied seasons. Also, results showed that moringa extract or ascorbic acid increased TSS%, total sugars % and reducing sugars % in both seasons compared to the control. Meanwhile, the lowest fibers % was obtained by garlic extract in the two seasons. Also, all treatments had no significant effect on total acidity % and tannins content in both seasons.

Keywords

• date palm
• khadrawi
• fruit set
• yield
• fruit quality
• moringa extract
• garlic extract
• ascorbic acid