Author(s): S. A. Al-Khateeb, R. Okawara, A. A. Al-Khateeb and I. A. Al-Abdoulhady
Article publication date: 2006-03-01
Vol. 24 No. 1 (yearly), pp. 7-11.
139
Keywords
Date Palm, Phoenix dactylifera, Amino levulinic acid.
Abstract
The effects of spraying 5-ALA on date palms in relation to chlorophyll biosynthesis and fruits yield and quality during the 1998/1999 seasons has been investigated. Fruits of Khalas cv. were sprayed with 5-ALA aqueous solutions of 0, 50, and 100 ppm two weeks after fruit setting. Spraying was applied biweekly for six weeks. The Fruit's chlorophyll content in the Khalal (green) stage was significantly increased with 5- ALA treatments. Fruit weight, fruit volume and fruit flesh percentage of the rutab (yellow) stage were significantly increased with 100 ppm 5-ALA. During tamer the stage, fruit volume was significantly increased with S-ALA treatment, while fruit weight was not. Total and reducing sugars were significantly increased with S-ALA treatment in the rutab stage, but not in the tamer stage.