Influence of Leaf/ Bunch Ratio on Yield and Fruit Quality of “Zaghloul” Dates

Abstract

Different pruning ‎patterns of leaves in relation to a number of bunches (leaf/bunch ratio) ‎‎during the 2018 ‎and 2019 seasons were applied to uniform‏ ‏‎12 adults‎‏ ‏of 17-year-old ‘Zaghloul’ date ‎palm ‎females grown on sandy soil under drip irrigation in Belbis district, Sharkia ‎Governorate, ‎‎Egypt. Three levels of leaf/bunch ratios at 6:1, 8:1, and 10:1 plus the control ‎treatment ‎ ‎(only dead leaves were cut) were investigated. The tested physical characteristics were ‎yield, ‎ weight of bunch, fruit and fruit flesh, as well as fruit length and diameter, and dry ‎weight ‎of flesh of date fruits. In addition, the total soluble solids content and Tannins ‎as ‎chemical characteristics of date fruits were measured. All pruning treatments increased the yield/palm in ‎comparison ‎‎with the control. The leaf/bunch ‎ratio at 10:1 achieved the highest yield (182.06 ‎and184.50 ‎kg/palm) in the two seasons, respectively. The palm yield of check treatment was ‎lower with results of 135.22 and 136.00 ‎kg/palm in the studied seasons, respectively. Palms in all levels of leaf/bunch ratios recorded the highest of the bunch weight and fruit weight of dates in comparison with those in palms had no pruning. ‎Generally, all applied leaf/bunch ratios had a positive ‎effect on other measured physical ‎properties of ‘Zaghloul’ date palm fruits. The total soluble solids content was higher in ‎pruned palms, however, the tannins percentage was lower in the same palms. The ‎leaf/bunch ‎‎10:1 ratio gave the best results regarding the tested characteristics of ‎‎‘Zaghloul’ date ‎palms under the ‎studied region.‎