Effect of pollination and thinning methods on yield and fruit quality of saidy date palms

Abstract EN

The effect of fruit thinning and pollen grains dusting as a pollination methods of saidy date palm which combines of both mechanical pollination and fruit thinning were studied during 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons.

pollen mixed with starch in ratio of 1:1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 as 50, 25, 17, 12.5 and 10% active ingredients.

fruit thinning was carried out by 15, 30 and 45% removal of setting fruits.

the obtained results indicated that there were reduction in the percentage of fruit retention and fruit weight/bunch as the pollen grains concentration was lower or fruit thinning was done.

there were no significant differences in fruit weight/bunch due to dusting pollen grains powder at 50 or 25% compared to control.

on other hand, there was an improve in the fruit quality in terms of increasing the fruit weight, pulp %, total soluble solids and sugar contents and decreasing the fruit moisture content was observed with reduction of pollen grain concentrations and doing fruit thinning.

furthermore, there were no significant difference due to pollination by 17% pollen grains and removing 15% of fruit setting, as well as 12.5% pollen grains and 30% removal of setting fruit.

it could be concluded that pollination by 12.5% pollen grains powder or removing 30% of fruit setting could be a considerable yield with good fruit quality.

in addition, dusting pollen grains powder at 12.5% resulted in combined of mechanical pollination and fruit thinning effects.