Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(2): 3448-3456 International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 02 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com Original Research Article https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2018.702.411 Effect of GA3 on Fruit Yield and Quality of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Suresh Kumar Choudhary1*, Susheel Kumar1, Rajbala Meena1, 1 2 P.K. Yadav and Y. Sudarsan 1Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agriculture University, 334006 Bikaner (Rajasthan), India 2Department of Plant Bio-technology, Collage of Agriculture, SKRAU, 334006 Bikaner (Rajasthan), India *Corresponding author ABSTRACT The present investigation aimed to determine the effect of GA on fruit yield and quality in 3 different date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. Barhee, Halawy, Khadrawy and Zahidi in K e yw or ds carried out at Date palm Research Centre, Swami Keshwanand Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner during 2015. The experiment consisted of four date palm cv. Barhee, Date palm, GA3, Halawy, Khadrawy and Zahidi and five level of GA3 concentration (control, 50 ppm, 100 Fruit characteristics, ppm, 150 ppm and 200 ppm), arranged in split plot design with three replications. GA Quality , Barhee, 3 Halawy, Khadrawy (control, 50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm) applications were sprayed on fruits of Barhee, Halawy, Khadrawy and Zahidi cvs. At late kimri stage. The results showed that GA and Zahidi 3 treatments significantly increased physical properties (fruit weight, fruit length, fruit Article Info diameter, fruit volume and pulp:stone ratio) and highest fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit volume and pulp:stone ratio has been observed @ 200 ppm GA . However, Accepted: 3 the high fruit quality characters viz. total soluble solid, ascorbic acid, total, reducing and 28 January 2018 Available Online: non reducing sugars was recorded by the application of Gibberellic acid (GA3) at 150 ppm concentration. Results of this work suggest that 150 ppm GA3 could be used to increase the 10 February 2018 yield and improve fruit quality of Barhee, Halawy, Khadrawy and Zahidi cultivars. Introduction Barmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur and some parts of Churu, Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.), a Nagaur districts), Haryana and some parts of monoctyledonous and dioecious species Tamil Nadu. belonging to Arecaceae (Palmaceae) family, is one of the world’s oldest cultivated fruit Date palm plays an important role in the trees. It is widely cultivated the Middle East economic and social life of the people of and North Africa in hot arid regions of the these regions. Fruits of date palm are eaten as world. fresh fruits (hard ripe stage), dry dates (Chhuhara) and soft dates (pind khajoor) and In India, a mostly exist in the western part used in different processed products like, such as Kachchh region of Gujarat state sugar, starch, vinegar, juice, toffees, wine, (Johnson et al., 2013), Rajasthan (Jaisalmer, chutney, jam, pickles etc. and date fruits are 3448 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(2): 3448-3456 highly nutritious and contain high calorific pruning 10: 1 leaf/bunch ratio (Hussein et al., value (3150 calories / kilogram of fresh 1993). Only 5 bunches were left on each fruits), 60-65% sugar, fair amount of fibre experimental tree. Normal cultural practices (2.5%), protein (2%), less than 2 per cent fat, were carried out as usual used for date palm minerals up to 2 per cent i.e. iron, potassium, trees. Pollination was done at second week of calcium, copper, magnesium, chloride, March and GA3 (control, 50, 100, 150 and sulphur and phosphorus etc. (Gopalan et al., 200 ppm) was sprayed at late kimri stage (15 - 1985). Date seed oil is also suggested for use 16 weeks after pollination) in early morning in nutritional and edible purpose (Abdul Afiq with a plastic hand sprayer. A non-ionic et al., 2013). Date palm requires high wetting agent (APSA-80 surfactant) at 0.01% temperature (25⁰C - 40⁰C), fertile deep (at was added to all treatments. Control bunches least 2 meter) sandy loam soil with good were sprayed with distilled water and APSA- water holding capacity. The date fruit goes 80. Bunches were isolated against four distinct ripening stages derived from contamination during spraying by Iraqui Arabic language as Kimri, Khalal, polyethylene bags. The yield of fruits for this Rutab and Tamar. In India, these stages are experiment was harvested at the last week of called as Gandora, Doka, Dang and Pind, July and the following characters were respectively. In India, maximum fruits are determined. harvested at hard ripen khalal or doka stage because, if kept on trees for longer duration A. Fruit physical characters samples of three fruits are spoiled due to rains and high replicates, each of 10 fruits were taken humidity. Internationally, there is an randomly from each bunch to determine fruit increasing demand for excellent quality dates weight (g), length (cm), diameter (cm), (Glasner et al., 1999; Awad, 2007). Fruit volume (cc), stone weight (g), length (cm), weight and size are critical quality parameters diameter (cm) and pulp:stone ratio. Statistical that affect dates marketing because larger size analysis was performed (analyzed) with is generally preferred over small ones (Botes HAU, Hisar software (HAU Institute, 1997) and Zaid, 1999; Al-Qurashi and Awad, 2011). and mean separation was carried out at 5% The aim of this work of the study were probability level. assessed the effect of GA3 on fruit yield and quality of date palm and to evaluate the Results and Discussion optimum concentration of GA3 that could increase the size of fruit, yield and fruit Weight of fruit (g) quality of date palm under hot arid conditions of western Rajasthan. Data presented in table 1 shows that fruit weight was non-significant in the different Materials and Methods varieties of date palm and the respective value recorded in Khadrawy (11.81 g) followed by The experiment was conducted at Date Palm Barhee (11.33 g), Halawy (9.93 g) and Zahidi Research Centre and Plant Biotechnology (9.22 g). Centre and Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture of SKRAU, Beechwal, Data given in table 1 further indicated that all Bikaner during rainy season (June to different concentration of gibberellic acid November, 2015). Twelve date palm trees significantly increased the average fruit were selected similar in growth, vigour, weight of date palm. The highest fruit weight height, age (28 years old) and moderate was recorded with GA3 concentration 200 3449 Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2018) 7(2): 3448-3456 ppm (11.69 g) which was statistically at par increased the fruit diameter with the with GA3 concentration 150 ppm (10.91 g). increasing concentration of GA3 from 0 to The lowest fruit weight (9.57 g) was recorded 200 ppm. The GA3 200 ppm (2.57 cm) was under control. These results were reported by significantly higher over GA3 150 ppm (2.42 EL-Kosary (2009), Awad and AL-Qurashi cm). GA3 at concentration 200 ppm gave the (2012), Ghazzawy (2013) and Abo-El-Ez et highest (2.57 cm) fruit diameter followed by al., (2002) and El-Hodairi (1991). the 150 ppm (2.42 cm), 100 ppm (2.35 cm) and 50 ppm (2.30 cm). El-Hodairi (1991) Length of fruit (cm) reported as same results. Data presented in table 1 indicate that the fruit Volume of fruit (cc) length of date palm varieties varied significantly to each other. The highest fruit Data presented in table 1 showed that the fruit length was observed in Khadrawy (3.94 cm) volume was non-significant in the different followed by Halawy (3.89 cm), Zahidi (3.49 varieties of date palm under the present cm) and Barhee (3.05 cm). Meligi et al., investigation. The value of fruit volume (1982), Surial et al., (1982), Meena (2005) recorded in different varieties was; Khadrawy and EL-Kosary (2009) was reported as same (11.32 cc) followed by Zahidi (10.32 cc), result. Barhee (10.27 cc) and Halawy (9.89 cc). Similar results have been reported by Meena The data presented in table 1 further indicate (2005). that increasing concentration of GA3 from 0 to 200 ppm significantly increased the length Table 1 further showed that GA3 spray at late of fruit in date palm over control. The highest kimri of fruit has significant effect on the fruit concentration of GA3 200 ppm (3.91 cm) volume. The highest fruit volume was remained statistically at par with GA3 150 recorded with GA3 200 ppm (11.75 cc) ppm (3.69 cm) in term of length of fruit. The followed by GA3 150 ppm (10.83 cc). The minimum fruit length was observed under the minimum fruit volume was recorded in control (3.39 cm). These results are in control (9.49 cc). agreement with the trend reported by El- Hodairi (1991). Yield of fruit per plant (kg) Diameter of fruit (cm) Data presented in table 1 shows that fruit yield per plant was maximum in date palm Data presented in table 1 revealed that fruit variety Barhee (38.29 kg) which was diameter significantly differed among the significantly higher over Halawy (31.51 kg), different date palm varieties under the present Khadrawy (26.92 kg) and Zahidi (18.59 kg). study. The highest value of fruit diameter was In different date palm varieties have also been recorded in Barhee (2.55 cm) followed by reported by Meligi et al., (1982), Surial et al., Zahidi (2.38 cm), Khadrawy (2.37 cm) and (1982), Meena (2005) and EL-Kosary (2009). Halawy (2.20 cm). Similar results have been reported by Meligi et al., (1982), Surial et al., Further, data presented in table 1 revealed that (1982), Meena (2005) and EL-Kosary (2009).