HOSNY, S. (2016). COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SOME SEMI-DRY ARABIAN DATE PALM CULTIVARS GROWN IN MOUNOFIA GOVERNORATE. Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 94(4), 859-873. doi: 10.21608/ejar.2016.153131
SAMIA S. HOSNY. "COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SOME SEMI-DRY ARABIAN DATE PALM CULTIVARS GROWN IN MOUNOFIA GOVERNORATE". Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 94, 4, 2016, 859-873. doi: 10.21608/ejar.2016.153131
HOSNY, S. (2016). 'COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SOME SEMI-DRY ARABIAN DATE PALM CULTIVARS GROWN IN MOUNOFIA GOVERNORATE', Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 94(4), pp. 859-873. doi: 10.21608/ejar.2016.153131
HOSNY, S. COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SOME SEMI-DRY ARABIAN DATE PALM CULTIVARS GROWN IN MOUNOFIA GOVERNORATE. Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Research, 2016; 94(4): 859-873. doi: 10.21608/ejar.2016.153131
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SOME SEMI-DRY ARABIAN DATE PALM CULTIVARS GROWN IN MOUNOFIA GOVERNORATE
Tropical Fruits Research Department, Horticulture Research Institute, , Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
Abstract
This study was carried out through 2014 and 2015 to study the performance of four Arabian semi-dry date cultivars produced through tissue culture namely: "Zahdi", "Sakai", "Medjool", and "Khalas” grown in El-Khatatba region, Mounofia governorate, Egypt in comparison with the commercial semi-dry cv. "Sewy" (as a local cultivar). The study involved the flowed assessed parameters, dates of the first and last spathe emergence and bursting, fruit set and fruit retention %, date of harvest, number of bunches/palm and average yield per palm, as well as physical and chemical properties of fruits. Emergence and bursting of spathe of "Medjool" and "Khalas"occurred early, followed by “Sewy" and “Zahdi" while "Sakai"cv. came last. Harvesting of all tested cultivars was done on the first week of October. Regarding the yield, highest yield was obtained from"Madjool" palms in comparison with other tested cvs. followed by “Sewy" and “Zahdi" while it was the lowest with "Sakai" and "Khalas". Also, "Sewy" and"Madjool" palms produced the highest number of bunches /palm while the lowest number of bunches /palm was recorded by "Sakai". With regard to fruit set and fruit retention % "Medjool" cv. attained the highest percentage of fruit set and fruit retention% while “Khalas" was the lowest cultivar in this respect. Concerning physical properties, data proved the superiority of "Medjool"fruits in weight, dimensions and flesh/fruit weight% meanwhile"Sakai" fruits were the opposite. As for chemical properties, moisture content in fruits was the highest in “Sakai" fruits and lowest in "Khalas". Data proved the superiority of "Sakai" and "Madjool" in T.S.S% and total sugars content. Results showed also that most of these sugars were reducing sugars. Regarding tannins content, the differences between tested cultivars did not reach the level of significance. General evaluation revealed that "Madjool"cv. proved to be the superior cv. in yield and fruit quality among all the studied cvs., followed by "Sewy" cultivar which ranked the second in both total score units of yield and fruit quality, while "Khalas" and "Sakai"cvs.had the lowest score in general evaluation due to receiving the lowest score units specified for yield. However, fruit quality of these cvs.was lower than of the standard cultivar ("Sewy"). In addition," Zahdi" cv. seemed to be of great yield but fruit quality was less than that of “Sewy"cv. Thus, one can conclude that"Medjool" and "Sewy” cvs. proved to be the superior cvs. in yield and fruit quality. However "Zahdi" cv. seemed to be of great yield but fruit quality was lower than the standard cv. "Sewy". On the other hand,"Sakai "cv. showed lower palm yield but fruit quality was reasonable for consumer, but, it was generally lower than of "Sewy" cultivar.