EFFECT OF NAA ON FRUIT SETTING, BUNCH WEIGHT AND FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF SAMANI AND ZAGHLOUL DATE PALM CUL TIVARS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Pomology Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University.

2 Central Laboratory for Date Palm Researchs and Development.

Abstract

This study was carried out in 2003 and 2004 seasons In the Experimental
Orchard of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza. Egypt, to study the effect
of fruit thinning using NAA at different concentrations spraying on Samani and
Zaghloul date palm cultiivars. Fruit set was decreased when NAA sprayed at 7 or 21
days from pollination especially at 100 or 150 ppm for both cultivars in the two
seasons. Also, Samani and Zaghloul fruit physical characteristics i.e. (fruit weight,
flesh weight, seed weight, fruit dimensions and fruit size) were enhanced with 100 or
150 ppm of NAA. In addition, Samani and Zaghloul fruit contents of TSS, total soluble
sugars, reducing sugar an~ non-reducing sugars were increased with spraying 100
ppm NAA in the two seasons especially 7 days atter pollination.

Keywords