EFFECT OF SOME GROWTH REGULATORS ON YIELD AND FRUIT QUALITY OF 'SAMANI' DATE PALM

This study was carried out during two successive seasons (2006 and 2007) at the Experimental Research Station, Faculty Agriculture Giza, Egypt. Different GA₃ and BA (0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm) and CPPU concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 20 ppm) were sprayed on ‘Samani’ date palm to study their effect on yield and fruit characteristics. GA₃ and BA applications at the higher concentrations increased average bunch weigh, average fruit weigh, flesh weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, total soluble solids percentage, total sugars percentage and decreased total acidity percentage. CPPU applications gave the lowest total soluble solids, total sugars and increased total acidity. It could be concluded that GA₃ and BA at a concentration of 150 ppm gave the highest yield with the best quality and fruit characteristics.