Effect of Different Pollen Sources on Yield and Fruit Quality of Barhi Date Palm Cultivar under Sudan Conditions

This research was conducted to study the effect of different pollen grain sources on yield, maturity and fruit quality of “Barhi” date palm cultivar. Pollen grains were collected from six locations, Al-khoglab Male1, Soba Male2, Al-Halfaya Male3, Bahary Male4, Al-Grief Male5, Shambat Male6, for hand pollination of Barhi cv. female trees during successive seasons (2019-2021). Fruits were harvested at full maturity stage (full coloring) to determine physical and chemical characteristics as bunch weight, total yield, fruit weight, length, and diameter, seed weight, length and diameter, Total Soluble Solids (TSS%), maturity % and fruit flesh weight %. Results indicated that the highest Pollen germination % and length fruit were recorded in Shambat Male 6.The highest fruit set %, bunch weight, total yield, fruit length /diameter (L/D) ratio with Al-khoglab Male 1and Shambat Male 6.There is no significant differences with six pollen sources was attained fruit diameter, Seed Weight and seed length / diameter (L/D) ratio. It is better to use, Al-khoglab Male1 or Shambat Male 6. Pollen grains of Khartoum region -Sudan to pollinate date palm of Barhi to obtain the best fruit quality.