EFFECT OF GIBBERELLIN AND LIQUORICE EXTRACT ON FRUITS CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DATE PALM FRUITS PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L. ZAHDI CV.

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in a private orchard in Falluja city, season of 2002, to investigate the effect of spraying each of GA3 and liquorices extract on quality characteristics of date palm fruits Phoenix dactylifera L. Zahdi cv.Hand pollination was carried out in Apr. 1, 2002. After the fruits setting was completed. The spraying with GA3 and liquorices extract was done in two periods. The first one was at Hababuk stage and the second was at Chemri stage. In both stages fruits were sprayed with 250 mg / L GA3, 2 and 4 gm / L of liquorices extract in addition to the control (fruits lifted without spraying). Results were showed that spraying date palm fruits with 4 gm / L liquorices extract resulted in a significant increased in total soluble solids to 75.35%, total sugars to 73.33% and reducing sugars to 65.12%, while percentage of sucrose decreased to 8.21%. On the other hand spraying with GA3 led aprovite results in the regard. Spraying fruits with 4 gm / L liquorices extract exhibited an increased in the dry matter to 86.82% but it decreased in water content to 13.17%. Where as fruits treated with GA3 exhibited in a decreased in the dry matter to 83.35% but it increased the water content to 16.64%.