Influence of Strands Thinning and Brassinolide Spray on Yield and Economic Return of Sewi Date Palm Cultivar

Abstract

The influence of strands thinning and spraying brassinolide on yield index, fruit physical and chemical properties as well as the economic return of "Sewi" date palm fruits were investigated during three successive seasons. Spray brassinolide (5 and 10 % concentrations) and strand thinning rate (15 and 30 % strands number/bunch) each alone or combined with them as compared with control (untreated). Treatments were done at 30 days after hand pollination. Results showed that the superior treatment was strand thinning 15% combined with spraying 10 % brassinolide as significantly increased yield index (bunch weight and yield/palm) and maintained fruit quality (fruit weight, length and diameter, flesh weight and soluble solids content%, total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars compared with control. Also, Palms were strand thinning 15% combined with spraying 10 % brassinolide recorded high-priced economic return (133082 L.E./fed./year) compared with palms untreated (control) as enrolled the lowest income (77968.8 L.E./fed./year). The study suggests that strand thinning of 15% combined with spraying 10 % brassinolide treatment could be a promising candidate as long as fruit quality is maintained and a high yield of Sewi date palm.