EFFECT OF BUNCH BAGGING ON PRODUCTIVITY, RIPENING SPEED AND POSTHARVEST FRUIT QUALITY OF 'ZAGHLOUL' DATES

A field study was carried out during the 2007 and 2008 seasons on adult trees growing in sandy soil in order to obtain early fruit maturity and improve productivity and postharvest fruit quality. Spathes bagging was carried out at pollination time using transparent and blue polyethylene bags. Bags were removed after fruit set and when the fruit reached either to the hababouk (earliest stage of development), khimri or khalal stage (partially-ripe or biser). In general, the polyethylene bags caused a significant early fruit ripening, increased fruit weight, length, diameter and yield, while the percentage of cracked fruits at harvest time was decreased as compared to the control. As for the maturity, the transparent polyethylene bags and the removal of bags at khalal stage were more effective than the blue bags and removal of the bags at hababouk or at khimri stage whereas, the blue polyethylene bags and removing the bags at hababouk or khimri stage were the best for improving the fruits’ quality at harvest time or during cold storage. In this respect, the shelf life and storability were higher in the blue polyethylene bags and removal of the bags at the hababouk or than the transparent polyethylene bags and removal of the bags at the khalal stage. The percentage of fruit drop was increased when the bags were removed at khalal khimri stage. Stalk length was clearly increased as a result of bagging and the increase was proportional to the duration of bagging.