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Study the Effect of Naphthalene acetic acid (N.A.A.)
On the Ripening Date And the Specifications Of Dates (Khnezi Variety)

Done By:

Dr.Hassan A. Shabana
Agri.Engineer: Rashid Khalfan Alshiriqi
Agri. Engineer Mansour Ibrahim Mansour
Agri.Engineer Saleh A. Akroot
Agri. Engineer Waleed M. Alsafadi
Agri.Engineer Abdel Mouti S.Nassar

Abstract

Date fruits of Khnezi variety were treated with solution of (Naphthalene acetic acid (N.A.A.) under concentration of 50-100 parts per million on date palm trees aged 8 years in Alhemrania Research and Experimental Station during the agricultural seasons of 1994-1995.

The experiment proved that both treatments with (N.A.A.) led to delay of ripening for more than two months particularly when spraying the highest concentration of (100 part per million).

In addition, the solution contributed the increase in size, weight, flesh and the dimensions of fruit. From the practical aspect the results of the experiment can be utilized during the marketing period of this variety in the ripe date stage where the farmer could attain higher profits.

Preface

Plant hormones play an important and major role to regulate the growth and the development of plants. Scientific experiments could prove this fact which prompted the botanists to find out manufactured chemical substances which can perform a similar functioning of the natural hormones or to increase or decrease their activity in order to control the growth and the development of plant and to improve increasing plant productivity as well (1, 2, 3,).

khnezi

The above was applied to fruit trees as some chemical substances can act as organizers of some biological interactions in the plant and affect their physiology. Some of these substances were used to improve the specifications of fruits, increase their productivity and reduce the number of flowers and fruits (1, 2, 3,) in purpose of controlling the ripening date (earliness or delaying) as well as improving the quality of fruits which will act for increasing the income and the revenues of farmers accordingly. This experiment was carried out on khnezi variety.

Materials and Methods

The study was carried out in the Agricultural Research Station in Alhemrania- the Northern Agricultural Region during the agricultural seasons of 1994- 1995 on date palm trees (Khnezi variety) aged 8 years.

Fruits were sprayed during the stage of the relative inactivity of growth (alternation of fruits from Gemri to Khlal) using Naphthalene acetic acid (N.A.A.) under concentration of 50-100 part per million.Fruits had been sprayed for one time and the following criteria were measured and calculated:

  1. Date of ripening with the naked eyes and calculate the percentage of ripening.
  2. Average of weight of fruit and stone by sensitive balance.
  3. Average of fruit and stone size by graduated cylinder and distilled water.
  4. Measuring the length of the fruit by the micrometer and distiller water.
  5. Measuring the width of the fruit by the micrometer.
  6. Modulus of length and width.
  7. Percentage of the flesh part of fruit.

Results and discussions

Table. (1) Shows the effect of NAA on the delay of the ripening date of fruit of Khnezi variety.

Table (1) Shows the Effect of (N. A. A.) on the Date of Ripening and the Specifications of Date Fruits of Khnezi Variety According to the Status of the Bunches.
Treatment Average of fruit size(cm 3) Average of fruit weight(gm) Average of stone weight(gm) Date of model testing
Control 8 7.82 0.65 19/9/94
50 parts/million N. A. A. 15.75 15.72 0.80 19/9/94
100partspermillion N.A.A. 15.50 16.64 0.82 19/9/94
Treatment Average of the flesh part(gm) Percentage of the flesh part on the seed weight% fruit length. Date of model testing
Control 7.17 90.93 3.83 19/9/94
50 parts/million N. A. A. 14.92 94.63 4.46 19/9/94

100partspermillion N.A.A.

15.82 94.81 4.41 19/9/94
Treatment Width of fruit Mod. of L/w Rip. % Date of model testing
Control 2.04 1.66 100 ???? 19/9/94
50 parts/million N. A. A 2.54 1.76 30.60 19/9/94

100partspermillion N.A.A.

2.56 1.72 27.93 19/9/94

We find that the fruits of the comparison of 19/4/94 were all changed into ripe dates and dried on the bunch.

The right picture shows untreated bunch for comparison while the picture to the left shows the bunches treated with N.A.A under concentration of 100 part/million Pictures were taken in the same date

The percentage of fruits which were ripped and reached to the inactive ripe date stage after being treated with N.A.A of 50 part/million was reached to 30.6% which indicates that the percentage of fruits still in the date stage reached to 69.4% while the bunches which were treated with N.A.A under concentration of 100 part/million led to more delaying in ripening stage as the percentage of fruits which were changed to the ripe stage or the inactive stage during the same date were reached to 27.9% and to the date stage were 74.1% (pictures 1&2).=The above results were harmonious with the results which were attained by the researchers (1, 4, 6).

Picture No. (2) Shows the effect of (N.A.A) under concentration of 50& 100 part/million on the date of the ripening date of fruit of Khnezi variety.
The right picture shows a bunch treated under concentration of 100part/million and the picture to the left shows a bunch treated under concentration of 50part/million.

Naphthalene acetic acid (N.A.A) contributed to increase the weight, size of fruits and the flesh part. The differences were big between the treated fruits which were entirely in the fruits of date stage and the untreated fruits which were entirely in the ripe date stage. When comparing between the treated fruits of dates and the fruits of comparison during the same stage of ripening, one can notice the great differences in the averages of size, dimensions of length, width and the flesh part of fruits in the treated fruits as well as in the weight of bunches were to the advantage of the treated fruits. As a result we can draw a conclusion that the Naphthalene acetic acid (N.A.A.) has contributed to delaying of the ripening stage of Khnezi variety for more than two months than the normal and natural season. In addition to the occurring increase in the weight and the size of fruits that the ripe dates of Khnezi variety could be attainable during the late period of October and the beginning of November.

Table No. (2) Illustrates the Effect of (N.A.A.) on the Size and the Nature of the Ripening Period of Khnezi Variety According to the Case of Bunches.
Treatment Average of fruit size (cm)# Average of fruit weight (gm) Average of stone weight(gm) Weight of flesh part(gm)
Control 8 7.82 0.65 9.17
50 parts/million N. A. A. 10 10.46 0.65 9.81

100partsper million N. A. A.

10.25 10.58 0.69 9.89
Treatment Percentage of flesh part to weight of stone % Length of fruit

Width of fruit

Modulus of length on width
Control 90.93 3.38 2.04 1.66
50 parts/million N. A. A. 93.37 3.93 2.28 1.72
100 parts per million 93.02 3.82 2.29 1.67

Recommendations

Where as the quantities of the ripe dates at the end of November become fewer and considering that khnezi variety is one of the favorite varieties to farmers and consumers therefore, we recommend spraying Naphthalene acetic acid (N.A.A) under concentration of (50, 100) part /million on fruits during their alteration stage from Khlal to Bisr ( relative sluggishness stage) in purpose of attaining ripe date of this variety during the same period and to increase the averages of weight and size of fruits. We also recommend to keep searching for other varieties and concentrations as well in order to fulfill the utmost utilization of this technique through controlling the time of fruit's ripening and improve their specifications.

References

  • Khoshnao and Hussar Shabana 1972 Study the effect of some artificial Auxins on date fruit. Scientific Bulletin No.1/17 Scientific Research Institute Baghdad.
  • Hassan Shabanah 1973, Study the effect of some of growth hindrances during Autumn season on the greenness and fruit growth of apple trees Scientific Bulletin No.7 of 1973
  • Binyamin Namroud and group 1975, the effect of some growth organizers on the relative sluggishness of growth and the physiochemical changes during the various stages of growth of date fruits (chemical changes), Scientific Bulletin NO.(1)-75 Scientific research Institute- Baghdad.
  • Mahmood Kloor and group, 1975 the effect of some growth organizers and the method of fertilization on the growth and development of dates fruits and seeds. The 3 rd international conference of Palm trees- Baghdad 1975.
  • EL – Azzouni, M.M,Kabeel.m.t & Abd-EL-Rahaman. Mh 1975. Effect of pre and post harvest, application of some groth vegetative on tow date palm varities Samani and Zaghloul.Annual Agric, sci moushtor 4,313 -220.
  • Shafat, m. And Shabana, H. 1980. Effect of Naphthalene acetic acid on fruit Size quality and ripening of Zahidi date palm, hort sci. vol 15 (6) 724-725.U.S.A.