Effect of Pollen of Five Different Male Palm Trees on the Chemical Characteristics of Jiroft Mazafati Date

Abstract

The type of pollen of date palm trees could affect the chemical characteristics of the fruit, and determine the quality and quantitative aspects. Careful selection of proper pollen for pollination of date palm is very important. This research was conducted for the selection of the best pollinizers and to study the effects of five varieties of male trees from the Shahdad area on the chemical characteristics of `Jiroft Mazafati' date. A completely random block was used for analysis of the 2 years of data (1991–1993). The study sight was in the Jiroft area of Kerman Province, Iran. Samples of fruit were collected after the pollination process and the required information recorded. Total dry matter, fruit moisture, total sugar content, fruit ash, and fruit pH were measured. Statistical calculations analysis and compound variations and evaluations of the treatments by Duncan's test indicate that, statistically, the different treatments have no effect on the fruit pH, and the difference are not significant. There are statistically significant effects on the other chemical characteristics of the fruit.