EVALUATION OF SOME VARIETIES AND SEEDLINGS OF DATE PALM GROWN AT BAHRIYA OASIS By AHMED MOHAMED ABD-ALLAH B.Sc. Agric. Sci. (Pomology. Dept.) Fac. Agric., Cairo Univ., Egypt, 2010 THESIS Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In Agricultural Sciences (Pomology) Department of Pomology Faculty of Agriculture Cairo University EGYPT 2016
ABSTRACT The present investigation was conducted during two successive seasons (2013and 2014) to evaluate some physical and chemical fruit properties of chosen twelve seedling date palm trees among 250 palms and Sewy, Soltany varieties grown at El-Qasr village in Bahariya Oasis conditions according to panel test survey. Evaluation was conducted through the two stages of fruit development (maturity and ripening stage) these palm trees gropes according to (dry, semi-dry and soft). Evaluation results reveal that in dry date palm seedling trees and Soltany variety. Palm 3 superior than Soltany variety and other seedling date palm trees in fruit physical properties (fruit weight, flesh weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit size) and chemical properties (total sugar and TSS in ripening stage). It gave convergent results in total yield compared with Soltany variety. The result for semi dry date palm group showed that palm 1 was superior than Sewy variety in physical fruit properties and total sugar. It gave convergent results in total yield and TSS compared with Sewy variety. Whereas, soft date seedling grope palm 4 gave the highest values in fruit physical and chemical properties and recorded high weight for yield in both seasons. Palm 3 in dry groups, palm 1 in semi dry and palm 4 in soft seedling date palm trees can be the beginning of new varieties with good characteristics under Bahariya Oasis conditions. Key words: Bahariya Oasis.Evaluation.date.Palm.
INTRODUCTION Egypt is considered to be one of the major date producing countries in the world. Date palm (phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the important fruit species grown in Egypt. Date palms are distributed in Nile valley, Oases and desert districts. It can grow well under drastic environmental conditions which may be not suitable for many fruit species. Date palm cultivars divided into three main groups according to its fruit moisture content, i. e. Soft. Semi dry and dry cultivars. (Hussein et al.,1979). Date palm is the most common fruit tree grown in semiarid and arid- regions. It plays an important role in the protection of interplant cropping systems and the stabilization of the ecological system (Hasnaoui et al., 2011). For these reasons, date palm is considered one of the suitable trees which could be grown in the new reclaimed desert regions. Its fruits are one of the most important exported fruit crops in Egypt; they are harvested and marketed at three stages of their development. The three stages are khalal (bisr), rutab and tamar (Kassem, 2012). In Egypt, date palm cultivation covers the whole area from the Mediterranean Sea up to Aswan. There is about 12,827,235 female palm trees that produced about 1,465,030 Ton as shown in Table (1) (according to the statistics of ministry of Agriculture
2014). Thus, dates are considered one of the promising fruits for local consumption, export as well as for agriculture expansion in desert areas and reclamation areas. (Omar 2015), Egypt was ranked the ninth in the countries exporting Dates while Tunisia was ranked the first, followed by Iran (UN.2014). Population of date palm trees whether concentrated or scattered in Bahariya Oasis reached 1.3-1.5 million date palms and almost 100,000 palm in location new reclaimed areas. While that planted to other fruit trees (olives, apricot, citrus, grapes, pomegranate) and Ancient farming areas represent 8000 feddans, (The Agriculture Director of Bahariya Oasis 2014 ). The aim of this work is to survey and evaluate of some dry, semi dry and soft date palm seedlings grown under El- Qasr Village in Bahariya Oasis conditions to evaluate and select the new and good seedlings to grow and product. Table1. Shows the total area, yield and production for palm dates,2014.*
Governorates Production Yield Fruiting Area (Ton) (Kg/palm) palm No. (Fed.) Lower Egypt 475647 674.545 6549465 56546 Middle Egypt 555795 656.955 5676676 65675 Upper Egypt 554544 76.495 5474657 54767 New Valley 644565 76.454 6554754 64675 Matruh 56767 96.444 554547 4544 Red Sea 6545 75.557 59657 134 North Sinai 67767 54.444 567599 9464 South Sinai 3044 59.996 45664 - Noubaria 69774 645.754 665755 5646 Total 6,756,454 667.565 65,754,556 647766 *Sorce: Statistics of minstry of Agriculture (2014) MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present investigation was conducted during two successive seasons (2013 and 2014) on twelve seeded palm trees comparing to Sewy and Soltany varieties grown in sandy soil of El- Qasr village at Bahariya Oasis district, Giza Governorate, Egypt. The study aimed to evaluate yield, Physical and chemical properties of fruits. All palm trees under study were chosen from 250 palms trees grown in El-Qasr village of Bahariya Oasis according to panel test survey. Only twelve seeded palms and two varieties Sewy and Soltany cultivar were chosen according to their vegetative properties (Leaves and spines properties), fruit quality i.e., fruit size, fruit weight, fruit color, flesh fruit weight, fruit diameter and chemical fruit properties (acidity, TSS content, total sugar, reducing and non-reducing sugars). All these parameters are taken in two stages; maturity stage and ripening stage. The selected palms were divided into three groups according to their moisture content, as follows: - Dry: Three palms and Soultany variety as control. - Semi dry: One palm seeded and Sewy variety as control. - Soft: Eight seeded palms without control. All date palms seeded trees were in a good health without any infections. Palms age ranged from 12 to 30 years old ( dry palm trees ranged between 21-30 years, semi-dry palm trees
ranged between 18 to 24 years and soft palm trees ranged between 12 to 20 years ) and always subjected to the same horticulture practices. The chosen female palms were hand pollinated by using the same source of pollen grains. Date of pollination for the majority of the spathes (80%) of each palm tree was recorded and considered as start point for counting the fruit age. In each experimental season, in general, aspects and parameters of the field and laboratory work were as follows: 1.Parameters of vegetative growth At harvest of each season (2013&2014), the number of leaves on each palm was counted and estimated. Also, 4 fronds aged three years old from each tested palm tree were detached to estimate the leaf length (m), spine zone length (cm), leaflet zone length (cm), Width of leaf base (cm) and number of spines and leaflets per leaf. 2.Flowering and harvesting date Dates of continuous palm flowering which was observed were recorded weekly. The period between flowering and harvesting date was determined by week. 3.Average bunch weight and palm yield The number of bunches per palm, average bunch weight (kg) and the total weight (Kg/palm). 4.Fruit physical properties
Thirty fruits were randomly taken, on two stages maturity and ripening stage, as a sample for each palm during both seasons of study. Samples fruits were divided into three groups; each of 10 fruits treated as a replicate to determine the following characteristics: a.fruit color The fruit color was determined visually, using a color chart (Robert 1938) in two stages. b.fruit weight It was calculated by weighing each 10 fruits as a replicate. The average fruit weight, in grams, was tabulated. c.flesh weight It was calculated by weighing flesh weight each 10 fruits, as a replicate, after removing seeds. The average flesh weight, in grams, was tabulated. d.seed weight It was estimated by the differences between fruit weight and flesh fruit weight, and the average seed weight (in grams) was tabulated. e.fruit Length
Fruit length was measured using venial caliper (cm) individual fruits of each replicate (10 fruits) per palm tree in both seasons. The main of each replicate was tabulated. f.fruit diameter Fruit diameter was measured using venial caliper (cm) individual fruits of each replicate (10 fruits) per palm tree in both seasons. The main of each replicate was tabulated. g. Fruit size It was calculated by immersing each of 10 fruits (as a replicate) in a known quantity of water in a graduated jar from which the average volume (cm 3 ) of fruits was tabulated. 5.Fruit chemical properties Thirty fruits were randomly taken at harvest time as a sample for each palm during both seasons of the study. Samples fruits were divided into three groups (10 fruits of each). Each group was treated as a replicate to determine the following characteristics. a.total soluble sugars content It was determined according to Smith et al. (1956) in the methanol extract using the phenol sulfuric acid method. The concentration was calculated as Total soluble sugars g/100 g dry weight. b.reducing sugars content
It was determined in the methanol extract according to Nelson and Somogy (1944) as described in A.O.A.C. (1995).The percentage was calculated as g /100 g dry weight. c.non-reducing sugars content It was determined by differences between total and reducing sugars. d.total soluble solids (TSS %) It was determined in fruit juice using Carl Zeiss Refractometer as described by A.O.A.C. (1995). f.fruit acidity percentage It was determined as described by A.O.A.C. (1995) and the titratable acidity was calculated as malic acid (Ranganna, 1979). g.moisture content The fruit samples were cleaned and the perianths and seeds were removed and date flesh was cut into pieces and dried at 60-65 c for 72 hours, although the normal dehydrating temperature 105 c might lead to burning of fructose and because the water molecules are firmly attached to the sugar molecules and will never be freed (Abd-EI-Rahman, 1974 and Mawlood, 1980). Statistical analysis A Randomize Complete Block Design with one factor was used for analysis, with 4 replicates for each palm tree in the four directions. The obtained means were compared by least
significant difference (L.S.D.) test as given by (Snedecor and Cochran (1994). Statistical analysis was carried out by special statistical program (ASSISTAT). SUMMARY An evaluation study was carried out in 2013 and 2014 seasons under conditions of El-Qasr Village in Bahriya Oasis. The twelve palms, Sewy and Soltany varieties were evaluation they were subjected to the same cultural practices. The study involved some vegetative growth, flowering, and fruits characteristics in addition to yield and bunch characteristics. All these parameters are evaluated at two stages (Completing color stage and ripening stage). The selected palms were divided into three groups according to their moisture content, as follows: Soft: Eight seedling palms without control. Semi dry: One palm seedling and Sewy variety as control. Dry: Three seedling palms and Soltany variety as control. 1.Morphological characteristics of palms In dry palm trees group palm (1) attained the highest number of leaves compared with other date palm seedling trees, In semidry palm trees group palm (1) gave the highest number of leaves
comparing Sewy variety whereas in soft palm trees group palm palm (7) recorded the highest number of leaves 86 comparing with other seedling date palm. In dry palm trees group palm (1) had the longest of leave length (5.10 m) compared with other date palm seedling trees and Soltany variety, In semi dry palm trees group Sewy variety had the longest of leaves length (4.65 m) and in soft palm trees group palm palm (1) recorded the longest of leaves length (4.90m) compared with other seedling date palms. 2.Flowering and Harvesting In dry palm trees group palm (3) was earlier flowering compared other date palm seedling trees and Soltany variety, In semi dry palm trees group Sewy variety flowered before palm (6) and in soft palm trees group that palms (1),(2) and (8) were early flowering compared with other seedling date palms. In dry palm trees group palm (3) was earlier harvesting comparing other date palm seedling trees and Soltany variety, In semi dry palm trees group Sewy variety harvested before palm (6) and in soft palm trees group that palms (4) and (5) were earlier in date harvesting compared with other seedling date palms. In dry palm trees group palm (3) had the shortest period from flowering to harvesting, in semi dry palm trees group Sewy variety had the shortest period from flowering to harvesting (25 and 24 weeks respectively) and in soft palm trees group that
palms (4) and (5) were the shortest period from flowering to harvesting compared with other soft seedling palm trees. 3.Yield and bunch characteristics In dry palm trees group Soltany variety gave the greatest number of bunches followed by palm (3), In semi dry palm trees group Sewy variety was the greatest number of bunches compared with palm (6) and in soft palm trees group palm (2) gave highest number of bunches followed by palm (4). In dry palm trees group palm (2) gave the heaviest bunch weight and followed by palm (3) and Soltany variety, in semi dry palm trees group palm (1) was the heaviest bunch weight compared with Sewy variety and in soft palm trees group palm (5) gave the heaviest bunch weight followed by palm (4). In dry palm trees group palm (2) gave the highest palm yield (70 and 70 kg) followed by Soltany variety (63 and 66 kg), In semi dry palm trees group Sewy variety was the highest palm yield (96 and 88kg) compared with palm (6) and in soft palm trees group palm (5) gave the highest palm yield (110 and 132 kg) followed by palm (4) which recorded (132 and 108 kg). 4.Fruit physical properties In dry palm trees group palm (3) had the highest fruit weight and followed by Soltany variety, In semi dry palm trees group palm (6) had the heavier fruits weight than compared
Sewy variety and in soft palm trees group palm (4) gave the heaviest fruit weight and followed by palm (5). In dry palm trees group palm (3) gave the highest flesh weight and followed by Soltany variety, In semi dry palm trees group palm (6) was the highest flesh weight compared Sewy variety and in soft palm trees group palm (4) gave the highest flesh weight and followed by palm (5). In dry palm trees group palm (3) was the longest of fruit length and followed by Soltany variety, In semi dry palm trees group palm (6) was the highest value in fruit length compared Sewy variety and in soft palm trees group that palms (4) gave the highest reads on fruit weight and followed by palm (5). In dry palm trees group palm (3) was the highest reads of fruit diameter and followed by Soltany variety, In semi dry palm trees group palm (6) was the highest value in fruit diameter compared Sewy variety and in soft palm trees group that palms (4) gave the highest reads on fruit diameter and followed by palm (5). In dry palm trees group palm (3) was the highest reads of fruit size and followed by Soltany variety, In semi dry palm trees group palm (6) was the highest value in fruit size compared Sewy variety and in soft palm trees group that palms (4) gave the highest reads on fruit d size a followed by palm (5).
5.Fruit chemical properties In dry palm trees group palm (3) was the highest reads of total sugar in the ripening stage and followed by Soltany variety, In semi dry palm trees group palm (6) was the highest value in total sugar in two stages compared with Sewy variety and in soft palm trees group that palm (4) gave the highest reads on total sugar and followed by palm (7). In dry palm trees group palm (2) was the lowest reads of acidity percentage in the two stages and, In semi dry palm trees group Sewy variety was the lowest value in acidity percentage in two stages compared with palm (6) and in soft palm trees group that palms (6) gave the lowest reads on acidity percentage compared other date palm seedling. In dry palm trees group palm (3) was the highest reads of TSS content in the ripening stage and followed by Soltany variety, In semi dry palm trees group palm (6) recorded convergent results in TSS content in two stages with Sewy variety and in soft palm trees group that palms (4) gave the highest reads on TSS content.
Conclusion Palm (3) in dry grope can be the beginning of dry cultivar with good characteristics under Bahariya Oasis conditions as it superior than Soltany variety and other seedling date palm trees in fruit physical properties ( fruit weight, flesh weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit size ) and total sugar Palm No. (1) is also better than some of the best semi-dry varietyies such as Sewy, especially in fruit weight, flesh weight, fruit size, fruit diameter and fruit length and total sugar and the results were non-significant in TSS between palm (1) and Sewy variety. And palm No (4) in soft grope can be the beginning of soft date palm cultivar with good characteristics because it superior than other soft seedling date palm trees in fruit physical properties ( fruit weight, flesh weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit size) and fruit chemical properties (total sugar and TSS) and gave the high weigh to yield.