effect of different dactylifera males and their whorl pollen grain on ...

Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> <strong>males</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong>s on Dhakki datepalm fruit
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EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DACTYLIFERA MALES AND THEIR
WHORL POLLEN GRAIN ON FRUIT SET, FRUIT DROP AND
FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS OF DHAKKI DATE PALM
M. Iqbal*, M. Munir** <strong>and</strong> M. Niamat Ullah***
ABSTRACT
Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s from <strong>different</strong> sources on fruit set,
fruit drop <strong>and</strong> fruit characteristics <strong>of</strong> Date palm Phoenix dectylefera (cv.
Dhakki) was studied in the Faculty <strong>of</strong> Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera
Ismail Khan, Pakistan. Nine local male trees (M 1 to M 9) were used. The results
revealed that pollinating trees gave economical fruit set (93.55%) with M 2 male
during 2007 <strong>and</strong> with M 1 male during 2008 (81.11%). The lowest fruit drop
(34.38 <strong>and</strong> 33.38%) with minimum economic losses was observed when
pollinated with M 2 in both years. In addition, the highest fruit weight <strong>of</strong>
18.14g was recorded when trees were pollinated with M 9 in 2007 <strong>and</strong> with M 5
in 2008 (15.18g). Pollination with M 1 <strong>pollen</strong> produced longer fruit (4.88 cm) in
2007, while pollination with M 8 excelled in fruit length (5.26cm) in 2008. The
highest pulp weight (17.01 <strong>and</strong> 13.88g) was observed for trees pollinated with
M 8 in both years, respectively. Maximum stone weight (1.37g <strong>and</strong> 1.12g) were
recorded when trees were pollinated with M 6 in 2007 <strong>and</strong> M 9 in 2008,
respectively. In case <strong>of</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong> sources, economical fruit set, highest
fruit weight <strong>and</strong> lowest fruit drop was produced by the pollination from 2nd
<strong>whorl</strong> <strong>of</strong> male palm. The results conclude that for obtaining maximum fruit
set, lowest fruit drop <strong>and</strong> highest fruit characteristics <strong>of</strong> Dhakki date, 2nd
<strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong> should be used under the agro-climatic conditions <strong>of</strong> Dera
Ismail Khan.
KEYWORDS: Phoenix dactylefera; cultivars; cross pollination; agronomic
characters; Pakistan.
INTRODUCTION
The date palm (Phoenix <strong>dactylifera</strong> L.) is highly cross pollinated fruit tree.
Due to its dioecious nature, about 5 to 10 male plants are capable for
pollinating 100 female plants <strong>of</strong> date palm. To make pollination <strong>effect</strong>ive, 2 to
3 str<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> male flowers are inserted between the str<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> female spath.
Artificial pollination is considered to be the most important factor affecting
*Department <strong>of</strong> Horticulture, Faculty <strong>of</strong> Agriculture, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan,
Pakistan.
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fruit set <strong>and</strong> yield (9). Economic yield depends on higher percentage <strong>of</strong>
normal fruit setting which further relies on pollination <strong>and</strong> its techniques
efficiency (time), time <strong>of</strong> flowering <strong>of</strong> male/female palms, <strong>pollen</strong> source <strong>and</strong>
quality, male-female compatibility, female flower receptivity <strong>and</strong>
environmental factors like temperature, rain <strong>and</strong> wind.
Many factors affect the pollination, one <strong>of</strong> them is <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong>
male types which affect fruit set, yield <strong>and</strong> fruit characteristics. Different
researchers studied the <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> male pollinizers on <strong>different</strong>
cultivars <strong>of</strong> female palm (4, 14, 19). Some other research workers
investigated that <strong>pollen</strong> source affect the productivity, maturity <strong>and</strong> fruit
quality <strong>of</strong> dates (8, 11, 12). Growers <strong>of</strong> D.I.Khan region generally use the
<strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> male <strong>whorl</strong>s. Basically, <strong>whorl</strong> is an arrangement <strong>of</strong>
three or more leaves or other organs radiating from a single node <strong>of</strong> date
palm. The date palm has unique flowering behaviour in comparison with
other fruit plants. Twenty leaves emerged from four spiral nodes resulting five
leaves quarterly in a period <strong>of</strong> one year. The early spathes emerged top
spirally from axil <strong>of</strong> the leaves <strong>and</strong> three to four spathes emerged spirally in
nine months old leaves. The mid <strong>whorl</strong> spathes emerged in axil <strong>of</strong> one year
old leaves <strong>and</strong> later on lateral spathes emerged. The spathes in <strong>whorl</strong> vary
from 3 to 5 in male <strong>and</strong> female depending on the variety <strong>of</strong> date palm (16).
The present investigation was aimed to study the <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> male
types <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s <strong>whorl</strong> on fruit setting, fruit drop <strong>and</strong> fruit
characteristics <strong>of</strong> Dhakki dates under the agro-climatic conditions <strong>of</strong> Dera
Ismail Khan.
J. Agric. Res., 2011, 49(4)
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was conducted in the Faculty <strong>of</strong> Agriculture, Gomal University,
D.I.Khan, Pakistan during the year 2007 <strong>and</strong> 2008. Twenty seven Dhakki
palms <strong>of</strong> 28 years age <strong>and</strong> vigour were selected for this purpose. Nine <strong>males</strong>
symbolized as M 1 to M 9 were used as a <strong>pollen</strong> source for pollination. Male
<strong>whorl</strong>s were also positioned as upper, middle, lower, etc. Male spathes <strong>of</strong>
<strong>different</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> were cut as soon as sheath crack appeared at top <strong>of</strong> spath.
The protective spathes sheath was removed for <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong> extraction <strong>and</strong>
flower spikes were placed on white paper sheet for one to two hours till the
completion <strong>of</strong> flowers opening. The <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s were separated from the
flower parts by shaking, using mesh type cloth. Then the <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s <strong>of</strong>
<strong>different</strong> <strong>whorl</strong>s were packed in air tight glass bottle <strong>and</strong> were stored in
refrigerator at 8°C. A small amount <strong>of</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong> was taken <strong>and</strong> placed on
slide with one to two drops <strong>of</strong> 1% acetocarmine solution. The slides were
then heated for few minutes on a hot plate. Pollen viability was examined

Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> <strong>males</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong>s on Dhakki datepalm fruit
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under a microscope at 200X magnification power. Pollen <strong>grain</strong>s that stained
red colour were considered viable in circle, whereas the colourless <strong>pollen</strong>
<strong>grain</strong>s were considered as non-viable. The <strong>pollen</strong> viability percentage was
calculated by the following formula;
Viable <strong>pollen</strong> or non-viable <strong>pollen</strong>
———————————————— x 100
Total <strong>pollen</strong>
The experiment was designed in split plot arrangement; male as a main
factor <strong>and</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> as sub-factor with three repeats. Pollination was done by
dusting <strong>of</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> <strong>whorl</strong>s on spath opening day <strong>of</strong> Dhakki
cultivar during February. After pollination, bagging was done to avoid
contamination.
Data on <strong>different</strong> parameters were recorded during the month <strong>of</strong> August as
detailed below:-
Fruit set percentage: Ten str<strong>and</strong>s per spath were selected for recording <strong>of</strong>
abnormal <strong>and</strong> normal fruit set. Fruit setting percentage was calculated using
the following formula:
Total number <strong>of</strong> normal fruits set
─────────────────────── x 100
Total number <strong>of</strong> fruits set
Fruit drop percentage: Fruit drop percentage was calculated by using the
following formula:
Fruit characteristics
Number <strong>of</strong> fruits dropped
────────────────── x 100
Total number <strong>of</strong> fruits set
Fruit weight: Twenty fruits were selected weighed on electric balance <strong>and</strong>
mean weight was calculated in gramms.
Fruit length: The length <strong>of</strong> 20 fruit was measured in centimeter meter rod
<strong>and</strong> then mean length was calculated.
Pulp <strong>and</strong> stone weight: Pulp was separated from seeds <strong>of</strong> 20 selected
fruits. Both pulp <strong>and</strong> seeds were separately weighed in grams <strong>and</strong> <strong>their</strong> mean
was calculated.
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Statistical analysis
The data on each parameter were statistically analyzed by computing
analysis <strong>of</strong> variance as described by Steel <strong>and</strong> Torrie (20) <strong>and</strong> employing
Duncan’s multiple range test (5%) for comparison <strong>of</strong> mean using MSTAT-C
s<strong>of</strong>tware.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Whorlwise flowering time, number <strong>of</strong> spathes, <strong>pollen</strong> quantity <strong>and</strong>
<strong>pollen</strong> viability
The results (Table 1-4) revealed the variability in <strong>whorl</strong>wise flowering time,
number <strong>of</strong> spathes, <strong>pollen</strong> quantity <strong>and</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> viability <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> <strong>males</strong> used
in pollination <strong>of</strong> cv. Dhakki.
Table 1. Whorlwise flowering time during 2007-08.
Whorl
2007
W 1
W 2
W 3
2008
W 1
W 2
W 3
Male
M 1 M 2 M 3 M 4 M 5 M 6 M 7 M 8 M 9
28 th
Feb
4 th
March
9 th
March
27 th
Feb
5 th
March
8 th
March
27 th
Feb
8 th
March
13 th
March
26 th
Feb
7 th
March
12 th
March
4 th
March
11 th
March
14 th
March
3 th
March
9 th
March
13 th
March
6 th
March
10 th
March
17 th
March
8 th
March
13 th
March
19 th
March
8 th
March
12 th
March
15 th
March
7 th
March
16 th
March
20 th
March
9 th
March
14 th
March
20 th
March
4 th
March
12 th
March
17 th
March
4 th
March
13 th
March
17 th
March
6 th
March
13 th
March
16 th
March
6 th
March
11 th
March
15 th
March
8 th
March
13 th
March
15 th
March
6 th
March
8 th
March
11 th
March
5 th
March
8 th
March
12 th
March
Table 2. Whorlwise number <strong>of</strong> spathes per plant during 2007-08.
Whorl
Male
M 1 M 2 M 3 M 4 M 5 M 6 M 7 M 8 M 9
2007
W 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
W 2 4 3 4 4 3 3 4 3 3
W 3 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 4
2008
W 1 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
W 2 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 4 4
W 3 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 3
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Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> <strong>males</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong>s on Dhakki datepalm fruit
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Table 3. Whorlwise <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong> quantity per spath (g) during 2007-08.
Whorl
Male
M 1 M 2 M 3 M 4 M 5 M 6 M 7 M 8 M 9
2007
W 1 5.00 5.00 3.00 6.00 8.00 12.00 12.00 7.00 6.00
W 2 7.00 8.00 9.00 20.00 21.00 21.00 27.00 19.00 13.00
W 3 7.00 6.00 8.00 15.00 13.00 13.00 20.00 11.00 10.00
2008
W 1 4.00 4.00 4.00 7.00 8.00 14.00 7.00 4.00 7.00
W 2 8.00 8.00 10.00 26.00 20.00 21.00 15.00 21.00 13.00
W 3 9.00 7.00 9.00 18.00 15.00 19.00 12.00 13.00 12.00
Table 4. Whorlwise <strong>pollen</strong> viability (%) during 2007-08.
Whorl
Male
M 1 M 2 M 3 M 4 M 5 M 6 M 7 M 8 M 9
2007
W 1 80.00 85.00 25.00 50.00 39.00 50.00 59.00 55.00 59.00
W 2 94.00 90.00 30.00 53.00 41.00 55.00 61.00 57.00 61.00
W 3 70.00 60.00 19.00 48.00 40.00 52.00 62.00 54.00 60.00
2008
W 1 78.00 83.00 24.00 50.00 32.00 38.00 45.00 58.00 61.00
W 2 90.00 88.00 28.00 55.00 33.00 54.00 56.00 66.00 65.00
W 3 60.00 77.00 18.00 42.00 32.00 50.00 45.00 63.00 59.00
Fruit set percentage
Pollination with <strong>different</strong> <strong>males</strong> significantly affected fruit set during both
years (Table 5). Fruit set pollinated with M 2 in 2007 (93.55%) <strong>and</strong> with M 1 in
2008 (81.11%) was found significant. Fruit setting trend <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> <strong>males</strong> is
<strong>different</strong> which is related to the viability <strong>of</strong> male <strong>pollen</strong>s. More fertile <strong>males</strong>
increase fruit set. Pollination with <strong>different</strong> <strong>whorl</strong>s indicated the economical
fruit set in 2 nd <strong>whorl</strong> during both years (62.57% in 2007 <strong>and</strong> 66.16% in 2008)
<strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s like male had similar trend <strong>of</strong> fruit setting. The <strong>pollen</strong> W 2
was more viable than that <strong>of</strong> W 1 <strong>and</strong> W 3 . Interactive <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> male x <strong>whorl</strong>
was significant in 2007 <strong>and</strong> non-significant in 2008. Maximum fruit set was
recorded in W 2 M 2 (95.66%) during 2007 <strong>and</strong> in case <strong>of</strong> W 2 M 1 (93.50%)
during 2008. These results are similar to those <strong>of</strong> El-Amer et al. (3), Ibrahim
<strong>and</strong> Shahid (11) <strong>and</strong> Jalal et al. (8) who reported variation in fruit setting due
to <strong>pollen</strong> source.
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Table 5.
Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s on fruit set (%) <strong>of</strong> cv. Dhakki.
Whorl
Male
M 1 M 2 M 3 M 4 M 5 M 6 M 7 M 8 M 9 Mean
2007
W 1 79.16c 90.66b 37.50o 63.00f-h 38.50no 54.00jk 61.50gi 54.33j 64.00eg 60.29a
W 2 68.33de 95.66a 43.00mn 63.00f-h 41.16m-o 58.00ij 69.50d 58.00ij 66.50df 62.57a
W 3 59.16hi 94.3ab 45.16lm 64.00e-g 49.50k-i 58.50h-j 68.50de 59.66gi 59.66gi 62.05a
Mean 68.88b 93.55a 41.88e 63.33c 43.05e 56.88d 66.50bc 57.33d 63.38c
2008
W 1 83.16 84.16 38.66 63.33 42.52 53.83 66.88 56.88 69.88 62.13ab
W 2 93.50 87.16 42.00 62.50 51.83 61.00 64.33 61.88 70.88 66.16a
W 3 66.66 60.50 47.16 52.66 27.50 51.50 60.00 55.88 64.88 54.07b
Mean 81.11a 70.44ab 42.61e 59.50cd 40.61e 55.44d 63.72cd 58.16d 68.50bc
Fruit drop percentage
The significantly lowest fruit drop (34.38 <strong>and</strong> 33.38%) was recorded when
plants were pollinated with M 2 in both years (Table 6). The results indicated
that <strong>different</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> sources play an important role in reduction <strong>of</strong> fruit drop.
The statistically lowest fruit drop was recorded with minimum economical
losses when pollination was done by 2 nd <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong> in both years. The
lowest fruit drop <strong>of</strong> 30.00 <strong>and</strong> 29.16 percent was noted when W 2 was
pollinated with M 2 in both years. These results confirmed earlier findings (12,
16,18), where <strong>different</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> sources had significant <strong>effect</strong> on fruit drop.
Table 6. Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s on fruit drop (%) <strong>of</strong> cv. Dhakki.
Whorl
Male
M 1 M 2 M 3 M 4 M 5 M 6 M 7 M 8 M 9 Mean
2007
W 1 43.50 31.50 58.53 58.50 67.66 58.00 47.00 57.66 52.33 52.72a
W 2 40.50 30.00 56.50 48.50 58.88 56.83 46.66 45.66 48.33 47.75a
W 3 42.50 41.56 52.50 65.33 60.16 56.50 48.00 57.16 52.00 52.87a
Mean 42.16d 34.38e 55.77ab 57.44ab 62.22a 57.11ab 46.55cd 53.50dc 50.88bc
2008
W 1 38.50 35.00 60.00 54.30 59.50 61.50 42.83 58.50 41.00 50.14
W 2 37.33 29.16 56.00 55.50 53.16 53.16 40.50 49.50 39.16 45.94
W 3 40.00 36.00 62.33 55.00 57.00 57.00 48.66 48.16 43.00 49.68
Mean 38.61e 33.38f 59.44a 55.00b 56.55b 57.22ab 44.00d 52.05c 41.05e
Fruit characteristics
Fruit weight: The data (Table 7) showed that Dhakki trees pollinated with M 9
male gave the significantly maximum fruit weight (18.14g) in 2007 <strong>and</strong> with
M 5 (15.18g) in 2008. Pollination with <strong>different</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s showed
non-significant <strong>effect</strong> on fruit weight in 2007. The interactive <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> male x
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Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> <strong>males</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong>s on Dhakki datepalm fruit
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Table 7. Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s on fruit weight (g) <strong>of</strong> cv. Dhakki.
Whorl
M 1 M 2 M 3 M 4 M 5 M 6 M 7 M 8 M 9
Mean
2007
W 1 16.53 13.50 15.51 12.40 13.19 13.13 14.34 16.80 18.56 14.88
W 2 14.45 16.78 14.99 12.11 14.39 13.90 16.44 19.24 18.71 15.67
W3 11.12 14.13 13.35 11.54 13.86 13.17 14.24 17.89 17.14 14.04
Mean 14.03b-d 14.80b-d 14.61b-d 12.02d 13.81cd 13.40cd 15.00b 18.00A 18.14a
2008
W 1 13.43d-g 12.75e-g 15.35a-c 14.36c-g 15.11a-d 14.19a-c 13.66a-f 14.91a-c 14.96a-c 14.30
W 2 13.44d-g 15.63a-c 16.42a 14.96a-d 16.86a-c 15.84a-c 14.38c-g 15.56c-g 15.43a-f 15.32
W 3 12.35fg 12.26g 12.99d-g 13.95d-g 13.57a-g 14.26c-g 14.07ab 14.76Ab 13.68c-f 13.53
Mean 13.07 13.34 14.89 14.42 15.18 14.76 14.03 15.07 14.69
Male
<strong>whorl</strong>s was found non-significant in 2007 <strong>and</strong> significant in 2008. In case <strong>of</strong>
interaction significantly higher fruit weight (19.24g) was recorded when
<strong>pollen</strong>s M 8 were applied to W 2 in 2007 while M 5 W 2 interaction excelled in
2008 (16.86g). These results agree to the findings <strong>of</strong> Hani et al. (7) <strong>and</strong> Iqbal
at al. (13) who reported that <strong>pollen</strong> sources had significant <strong>effect</strong> on fruit
weight.
Fruit length: Significant differences in fruit length were observed among
treatments in the year 2007, while non-significant in 2008. Among the <strong>whorl</strong>s,
trees pollinated with W 1 contained maximum length in 2008 (5.69 cm). In
case <strong>of</strong> interaction maximum length (5.45cm) obtained from W 1 trees
pollinated with M 1 in 2007 while W 2 trees pollinated with ‘M 8 ’ stood first in
2008 (5.41 cm) (Table 8). It revealed that specific <strong>pollen</strong> may possibly affect
cell number in early cell division stage <strong>of</strong> fruit development. The results
obtained during 2008 are contradictory to findings <strong>of</strong> Rahemi (17), Jalal et al.
(8) <strong>and</strong> Hani et al. (7) who reported non-significant <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> <strong>pollen</strong>s
on fruit length.
Table 8. Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s on fruit length (cm) <strong>of</strong> cv Dhakki.
Whorl
Male
M 1 M 2 M 3 M 4 M 5 M 6 M 7 M 8 M 9 Mean
2007
W 1 5.45a 4.25c-e 4.20c-f 3.93e-h 3.86f-h 3.88e-h 4.11d-g 4.66b 4.41b-d 4.30a
W 2 5.30a 4.73b 4.46b-d 3.86f-h 3.96e-h 4.00e-h 4.16c-g 4.50bc 4.40b-d 4.37a
W 3 3.90e-h 4.00e-h 4.20c-f 3.66h 3.83f-h 3.81gh 3.95e-h 4.53bc 4.18c-g 4.00a
Mean 4.88a 4.32c 4.28cd 3.82f 3.88ef 3.90ef 4.07de 4.56b 4.33bc
2008
W 1 4.15 4.96 3.08 5.05 4.70 4.53 4.61 5.26 4.88 5.69
W 2 4.81 5.05 5.16 4.95 5.36 4.80 4.75 5.41 4.85 5.01
W 3 4.16 4.73 4.71 4.61 4.48 4.53 4.63 5.10 4.58 4.61
Mean 4.37 4.91 7.65 4.87 4.85 4.62 4.66 5.26 4.77
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Pulp weight: The pulp weight <strong>of</strong> fruit was significantly (P < 0.05%) affected
by pollination with <strong>different</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> sources in both years (Table 9). Maximum
pulp weight (17.01g) was recorded when spathes were pollinated with M 8 <strong>and</strong>
M 9 in 2007 <strong>and</strong> with M 9 in 2008 (13.88g). The cumulative <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> male x
<strong>whorl</strong>s was non-significant in 2007 <strong>and</strong> significant in 2008. However,
maximum pulp weight (18.31g) was found in W 2 M 8 interaction in 2007 <strong>and</strong>
W 2 M 3 in 2008 (15.01g). These results are similar to those <strong>of</strong> Al-Ghamdi et al.
(2), Hani et al. (7) <strong>and</strong> Iqbal et al. (13) who reported significant <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong>
<strong>pollen</strong> sources on fruit pulp.
Table 9.
Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s on fruit pulp weight (g) <strong>of</strong> cv Dhakki.
Whorl
2007
Male
M 1 M 2 M 3 M 4 M 5 M 6 M 7 M 8 M 9
Mean
W 1
15.70 12.30 14.16 11.57 12.13 12.25 13.41 15.90 17.40 13.87
W 2
13.65 15.33 16.16 11.40 13.41 13.20 15.61 18.31 17.53 14.99
W 3
10.61 13.08 12.75 10.68 12.78 12.56 13.18 16.81 16.11 13.17
Mean 13.22bc 13.57b 14.36b 11.21c 12.77bc 12.67bc 14.07b 17.01a 17.01a
2008
W 1
12.25g-k 11.70j-k 14.00a-d 13.08d-h 13.81b-c 12.83e-i 12.48f-j 13.83b-e 13.66b-e 13.07b
W 2
12.18g-k 13.58b-f 15.01a 13.63b-e 14.58ab 14.43a-c 13.30c-g 14.00a-d 14.33a-c 13.89a
W 3
11.40gk 11.21k 12.00h-k 13.00d-h 12.41g-j 12.91d-h 12.70e-i 12.41g-j 13.66b-e 12.41b
Mean 11.94c 12.16bc 13.67A 13.23a-c 13.60a 13.39ab 12.83a-c 13.41ab 13.88a
Stone weight: Maximum stone weight (1.37g) was obtained from trees
pollinated with M 6 in 2007 <strong>and</strong> with M 9 in 2008 (1.12g) (Table 10). The
cumulative <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> male x <strong>whorl</strong>s was non-significant in both years.
Maximum stone weight (1.45g) was recorded from W 2 M 2 interaction in the
year 2007 <strong>and</strong> W 2 M 9 in 2008 (1.18). These results do not agree to the
findings <strong>of</strong> Marzouk et al. (16), Hussain et al. (10) <strong>and</strong> Jalal et al. (8) who
reported significant <strong>effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> sources on stone weight.
Table 10.
Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s on stone weight (g) <strong>of</strong> cv Dhakki.
Whorl
Male
M 1 M 2 M 3 M 4 M 5 M 6 M 7 M 8 M 9 Mean
2007
W 1 1.18 1.25 1.35 1.28 1.30 1.36 1.18 1.25 1.15 1.23
W 2 1.26 1.45 1.41 1.31 1.28 1.41 1.08 1.13 1.43 1.31
W 3 0.95 1.05 0.90 0.95 1.16 1.35 1.36 1.10 1.23 1.11
Mean 1.13 1.18 1.22 1.18 1.25 1.37 1.21 1.16 1.27
2008
MW 1 0.83 1.20 0.83 0.83 1.06 0.88 0.93 0.90 1.16 0.95
W 2 0.80 1.11 1.11 0.71 0.98 0.70 0.83 0.93 1.18 0.93
W 3 0.51 0.95 0.60 0.86 1.08 0.61 1.06 0.98 1.03 0.85
Mean 0.71d 1.08ab 0.85bd 0.80cd 1.04a-c 0.71d 0.94a-d 0.93a-d 1.12a
J. Agric. Res., 2011, 49(4)

Effect <strong>of</strong> <strong>different</strong> <strong>males</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong>s on Dhakki datepalm fruit
515
CONCLUSION
The results conclude that <strong>whorl</strong> <strong>pollen</strong> <strong>grain</strong>s can be utilized for obtaining
economical fruit set, lowest fruit drop <strong>and</strong> minimum economic losses from
Dhakki date under the agro-climatic conditions <strong>of</strong> Dera Ismail Khan.
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