EFFECT OF OFFSHOOT WEIGHT ON ESTABLISHMENT AND VEGETATIVE GROWTH IN 'SAYAR' DATE PALM

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is propagated traditionally by offshoots which are produced in a limited number in a palm tree. Success of establishment of date palm offshoots is different between date palm cultivars. It depends on some factors such as offshoot weight, age and root system. This study was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three treatments of offshoot weight and twelve replications. Weight of offshoots was 10, 12 and 16 kg. The offshoot growth characteristics such as establishment percent, plant height, number of leaves, leaf length and width, number of leaflets, leaflet length and width, trunk diameter and canopy coverage were measured. The results showed that offshoot weight treatments had no significant effect on establishment of date palm offshoot, but there was significant difference between number of leaves, number of leaflets and leaflet width. The highest number of leaves, number of leaflets and leaflet width is resulted from 16 kg treatment. There was significant difference between this treatment with 10 and 12 kg treatments. But there was no significant difference between 10 and 12 kg offshoots.