Effect of Fluraton and male cultivar on embryonic development of flowers of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) C.V.‘Barhee

Abstract

This study explores the influence of Fluoraton treatment and male cultivar selection on the embryonic development of offshoot flowers in tissue-cultured date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.), specifically focusing on the 'Barhee' cultivar. Female offshoots, derived from tissue culture, were subjected to inoculation with two male cultivars, namely Al-Ghanamy Al-Akhdar and a male-seed strain. Concurrently, Fluoraton treatment, administered at concentrations of 0, 0.3, and 0.6 g L-1, was applied to the female inflorescences. Microscopic examinations unveiled significant impacts on pollen tube development, fertilization, and embryonic sac growth. These findings offer valuable insights into optimizing the pollination process, ultimately leading to enhanced fruit production. The study underscores the significance of employing Fluoraton treatment and selectively choosing certain male cultivars over others for the pollination of female cultivars, given their pivotal role in expediting the early ripening of fruits. Notably, the male was utilized in the pollination process independently of the female variety, as no discernible differences were observed between the flowers of the two female cultivars. Keywords: Fluraton, male cultivar, embryonic development, flowers, date palm, Barhi.