الفهرس 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Effect of bio-fertilization on vegetative growth and fruitingOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
This study was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2015 and 2016 on uniform of vigour offshoots and trees of Seewy date palm. This study involved three experiments:
First experiment:
This study was conducted at New Valley Agric. Res. Station Farm and Directorate of Agriculture in Al-Kharga, New Valley governorate to evaluate the bio-fertilization effects on Seewy offshoots growth. Offshoots of uniform growth and size were carefully separated from mother trees and kept under shade. These offshoots were planted in nursery at February at 2x2 m by 56 offshoots. Each treatment was replicated four times with two offshoots for each replicate. The selected offshoots were subjected to seven fertilization treatments.
The treatments contained the following sex bio-fertilizers and control:
1- Using pseudomonas fluorescens (2.5x108 spore/ml).
2- Using yeast (Saccharomyces cervisiae at 4 g/L).
3- Using mycorrhizae (1x103 spore/L).
4- Using humic (4 g/L) acid plus Bacillus megaterium (2.5x108 spore/ml) and B. cereus (2.5x108 spore/ml).
5- Using Azotobacter sp. plus B. megaterium and B. cereus.
6- Using prseudomonas plus B. megaterium and B. cereus.
7- Control (unfertilization).
The experimental design was a complete randomized block design with four replicates, two for each.
The following measurements were determined during the two studied seasons.
1- Growth parameters of offshoots and root.
2- Contents of chlorophyll as well as leaf N, P, K and Na.
The nearly same obtained results during both seasons could be summarized as follows:
1 – Effect of bio-fertilization on vegetative growth:
It is quite evident from the results that all tested bio-fertilizers significantly increased the new leaf number per palm, leaf length and leaf width as well as, leaflet number, leaflet area, leaf area and total surface area/palm compared to untreated ones. The highest values of these growth traits recorded due to use bio-form for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
2- Percentage of N, P, K, Na and total chlorophyll:
Fertilized via the bio-form of the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium resulted in more announced and highly significant increment in leaf chlorophyll, N, P and K concentration and significantly decrease leaf-Na concentration compared to check treatment.
However, using pseudomonas produced the maximum values of leaf total chlorophyll whereas, fertilized with triple bio-form via Azotobacter sp. (bio-N), Bacillus megaterium (bio-P) and B. cereus (bio-K) gave the highest values of leaf N and K and least values of leaf-Na compared to other bio-fertilization treatments. On other hand, bio-fertilization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus masseae recorded the highest values of leaf-P concentration.
It could be concluded that using bio-fertilizers were beneficial to improve the growth and the nutritional status of offshoots palms. The best results with regard to growth and nutritional status of Seewy offshoots palms were obtained due to fertilize by bio-form of N, P and K.
3- Effect of bio-fertilization on survival percentage and root traits:
Fertilizing the offshoots with mycorrhizal, yeast or bio-form of N, P and K significantly increased the survival percentage and root traits i.e. root numbers per either of offshoot, leaf or m2 compared to unfertilized (control).
Using bio-form of N, P and K was more significantly increased than with the analogous ones using pseudomonas, yeast or mycorrhizal. No significant differences on survival percentage and root traits due to triple bio-form at any form. The highest values of these studied traits were recorded due to fertilize pseudomonas plus bio-P and bio-K compared to other bio-fertilizers. On the contrary, the least values were recorded for unfertilized offshoots compared to other treatments. Other studied bio-fertilization occupied an intermediate position in this connection.
Second experiment:
The data palms were grown in a private Orchard located at El-Dakhla Oasis, New Valley to study the effect of antioxidant, growth regulators and yeast on fruiting. Ten healthy palms selected at a similar age 20 years-old uniform in vigor. Bunches were thinned to nine per palm.
The experiment included seven bunches spraying as follow:
1- Amino acid at 0-50 g/L. 2- Ascorbic acid at 500 ppm
3- Citric acid at 500 ppm. 4- Active dry yeast at 10 g/L.
5- GA3 at 100 ppm. 6- CPPU at 15 ppm.
7- Control (distilled water).
The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with ten replications, one bunch each.
The tested treatments were evaluated through the following measurements during the two studied seasons.
1- Yield components.
2- Fruit quality.
The nearly same obtained results in the two studied seasons could be summarized under the following:
1- Effect of antioxidants, growth regulators and yeast spraying on yield:
All foliar applications of amino acid at 0.50 g/L, ascorbic acid at 500 ppm, citric acid at 500 ppm, yeast at 10 g/L, GA3 at 100 ppm and CPPU at 15 ppm significantly increased bunch weight and yield/palm compared with the untreated ones (control). The heaviest bunch weight and yield/palm were detected on the palms that sprayed with GA3 or CPPU followed by the antioxidant or yeast treatments. On other contrary, the lightest bunch weight and yield/palm were recorded for untreated bunches (control). Other studied treatments occupied an intermediate position in this connection. No significant differences were observed in bunch weight and yield due to spray GA3, CPPU or yeast, as well as amino acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid or yeast.
Thus it could be concluded that spraying the Seewy bunches with either antioxidant (amino acids, ascorbic acid or citric acid), growth regulator (GA3 or CPPU) or yeast to get high yield. Using either GA3, CPPU or yeast were more effective in increasing the bunch weight and consequently yield/palm.
2- Effect of antioxidants, growth regulators and yeast spraying on fruit quality:
A- Physical properties:
All the treatments significantly increased fruit weight, flesh %, fruit dimensions (cm) and fruit dry matter percentage and significantly decreased fruit moisture content compared with the control.
The heaviest fruit weight as well as highest dimensions and flesh % were recorded on dates of bunches that sprayed with GA3 or CPPU. On other hand, yeast spraying gave the least values of fruit moisture content and highest fruit dry matter compared to unsprayed ones (control). No significant differences were detected due to spray with either GA3 or CPPU, as well as amino acids, yeast citric acid or ascorbic acid.
Generally, the abovementioned results disclosed that GA3, CPPU, amino acid, citric acid, ascorbic acid and yeast greatly improved all fruit physical properties and no significant differences between these treatments under this study.
B- Chemical fruit juice constituents:
All parameters of chemical fruit juice constituents were significantly increased when used amino acid spray at 0.50 g/L, ascorbic acid at 500 ppm, citric acid at 500 ppm, GA3 at 100 ppm, CPPU spray at 15 ppm and yeast 10 g/L. The highest T.S.S.%, total sugars % and reducing sugars were recorded when spraying either amino acid or yeast compared to other treatments. On contrarily, the least values of these constitutes were recorded due untreated ones.
In the opposite, the lowest values of the total acidity % and tannins % recorded when spraying amino acid, whereas, the highest values of them were recorded on dates that harvested from unsprayed bunches (control). No significant differences in chemical fruit juice constituents were found due to sprayed with GA3, CPPU, amino acids, ascorbic acid, citric acid and active dry yeast.
Therefore, it can be concluded that sprayed the Seewy bunches with either antioxidant (amino acids, ascorbic acid or citric acid), growth regulator (GA3 or CPPU) or yeast at three times beginning from the first week of May and then June and July to get the best fruit quality. However, GA3 at 100 ppm or CPPU at 15 ppm were more effective in physical fruit characteristics. On other hand, spraying amino acids at 0;50 g/L or yeast at 10 g/L gave the highest values in the tested chemical fruit characteristics.
Third experiments:
The present experiment was performed to study the effect of spathes bagging on fruiting. The selected palms were twenty years old, grown in a private orchard located at El-Dakhla Oasis, New Valley. The laboratory work was conducted in the Pomology Department Lab., Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut Univ., Assiut. Ten uniformed date palms were selected. The number of bunches per palm were adjusted to nine. The following nine treatments:
1- Bagging bunches with white perforated polyethylene bags at July.
2- Bagging bunches with blue perforated polyethylene at July.
3- Bagging bunches with black perforated polyethylene at July.
4- Bagging bunches with green perforated polyethylene at July.
5- Bagging bunches with white perforated polyethylene at August.
6- Bagging bunches with blue perforated polyethylene at August.
7- Bagging bunches with black perforated polyethylene at August.
8- Bagging bunches with green perforated polyethylene at August.
9- Un-bagged (control).
Bunches were bagged with colored polyethylene bags of 30 µm thickness. The polyethylene covers were placed like sleeves over the bunch soon two times and were tied at the tip. First date at the first week of July, while the second done at fruit coloring at the first week of August and reamens till harvest date, at the first week of October. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with nine treatment and ten replicates, one bunch for each.
The tested bagging treatments were evaluated through the following measurements during the two studied seasons.
1- Yield indices (bunch weight, fruiting ripening % and spoiled fruit as weight or percentage).
2- Fruit quality.
1- Physical traits (fruit weight, fruit dimension and pulp % as well as fruit moisture % and fruit dry matter %).
2- Chemical characteristics (TSS, sugar contents, total acidity and tannins percentage).
The obtained results in the two studied seasons could be summarized under the following main items.
1- Effect of bunches bagging in yield components:
All bagging treatments significantly yield, components of significant increasing in the bunch weight, yield/palm and fruit ripening percentage and significant decreasing in the spoiled fruit whatever weight or percentage/palm compared to unbagged ones (control).
Therefore, data indicated that bunches bagging at the first date (at first week of July) surpassed than done at the second date at first week of August, as well as using white or green perforated polyethylene bags were surpassed than other, black or blue perforated polyethylene bags.
Moreover, data proved that bagging with either white, blue, black or green perforated polyethylene bags at any date, first or second significantly decreased the spoiled fruit what weight or percentage compared to unbagged ones.
So, it can be concluded that bagging bunches of Seewy date with either white, blue or black were must to get the highest yield and advanced the fruit ripening and decrease the fruit damage.
2- Effect of bunches bagging on fruit quality:
A- Physical characteristics:
All bagging treatments, whatever different color or date done significantly improved the physical fruit traits compared to unbagged ones. The bagging treatments significantly increased the fruit weight, fruit dimension, and shape fruit index, as well as, flesh percentage and fruit dry matter percentage compared to untreat one (control). Contrarily, these bagging treatments, any ways, significantly decreased the fruit moisture content compared to control.
The heaviest fruit weight and highest fruit dimensions were recorded on dates of bunches that bagged with white perforated polyethylene bags that done at the first date compared to other bagging treatments.
No significant differences were recorded on these studied physical fruit characteristics due to bag with any color of bags or done whatever at first or second date.
B- Chemical fruit juice constituents:
All parameters of chemical fruit juice constituents were significantly increased due to bag with any color perforated polyethylene bags, as well as whatever date one.
The highest TSS and sugars and least values of total acidity and tannins percentage were recorded due to cover the bunches by black perforated polyethylene bags. On other hand, highest values of total acidity and tannins percentage and least values of other chemical juice constitutes were recorded on unbagged bunches. No significant differences were detected for bunches bagging with either any colour bags or the bagging date done.
Generally, the previously results indicated that bagging the Seewy date bunches with color perforated polyethylene bags for two to three months pre-harvest significantly improved the fruit quality in terms of increasing the fruit weight, fruit size, flesh %, fruit dry matter percentage, total soluble solids and sugar contents and decreasing the total acidity and total tannins, hence, advanced the ripening and harvesting date.
Hence, it can be concluded that bagged the Seewy date bunches with either, white, blue, black or green black perforated polyethylene bags for two to three months per harvest date to get the high yield with the best fruit quality.
Conclusion
On the light of the previous results, it could be concluded that:
1- Using bio fertilizers were beneficial to improve the growth and nutritional status of offshoots palms as well as their root performance. Hence, that it is necessary to mycorrhizal, yeast or bio-fertilizers to produce vigour offshoots.
2- Foliar application with either amino acid at 0.50 g/L ascorbic acid at 500 ppm citric acid at 500 ppm, GA3 at 100 ppm, CPPU at 15 ppm or yeast at 10 g/L, when spraying three times at first week of May, June and July. GA3 or CPPU were recommended to increase bunch weight, yield/palm and get highest physical fruit quality compared to other treatments. On other hand, amino acid or yeast gave the highest values of the chemical fruit juice constituents compared to other treatments.
3- Bagging the Seewy date bunches with color perforated polyethylene bags for two to three months preharvest date significantly improved the yield as well as fruit quality in terms of increasing the fruit weight, fruit size, flesh %, fruit dry matter percentage, total sugar contents and decreasing the total acidity and total tannins, hence, advanced the ripening and harvesting dates.
In general bunches covered before harvesting, accelerated ripening and improved fruit quality as well as prevented the falling down of matured dates and protected them against pest damages.