THE EFFECT OF THE FLORAL APPLICATION OF GIBBERELLIC ACID ON UNPOLLINATED INFLORESCENCES OF THE DATE PALM CULTIVAR ASSIANE (Phoenix dactylifera L.): A CASE STUDY OF FIGUIG OASIS, MOROCCO

Mourad  Baba; Ibtissam  Mzabri; Jamal  Mimouni; Noureddine  Kouddane; Abdelbasset  Berrichi

doi:10.18006/2021.9(3).287.293

Authors

Mourad Baba Laboratory for Improvement of Agricultural Production, Biotechnology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences of Oujda, University of Mohammed Iᵉʳ, Oujda, Morocco
Ibtissam Mzabri Laboratory for Improvement of Agricultural Production, Biotechnology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences of Oujda, University of Mohammed Iᵉʳ, Oujda, Morocco
Jamal Mimouni Territorial Department of Figuig, National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Tree Areas, Erfoud, Morocco
Noureddine Kouddane Laboratory for Improvement of Agricultural Production, Biotechnology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences of Oujda, University of Mohammed Iᵉʳ, Oujda, Morocco
Abdelbasset Berrichi Laboratory for Improvement of Agricultural Production, Biotechnology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences of Oujda, University of Mohammed Iᵉʳ, Oujda, Morocco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18006/2021.9(3).287.293

Keywords:

Oasis of Figuig, Cultivar Assiane, Parthenocarpie, Fruit set, Gibberellic Acid

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Gibberellic Acid in mitigate the phenomenon of parthenocarpy and improve the fruit set in the date palm cultivar Assiane at Figuig Oasis in Morocco. For this, four different concentrations of Gibberellic Acid (GA3) viz., 5, 50, 100, and 200 ppm were applied on unpollinated inflorescences in two phases. The first dose of GA3 is applied at the time of spadices burst while the second one is applied after the seven days of the first one. The results obtained from the study showed that the application of gibberellic acid on unpollinated female inflorescences had a significant effect on the removal of parthenocarpy which resulting in the higher normal-looking fruits with normal seed and by promoting the maturity of parthenocarpic fruits. In the case of rate of thinning, the application of GA3 @ 5-100 ppm enhanced the flower drop, while the application at higher concentration i.e. 200 ppm promotes the retention and development of flowers. Further, the analysis of the ripe fruits sugars content by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) suggests that the application of GA3 did not have any significant effect on the sugar content and these treatments are not significantly different from the fruits of pollinated flowers.

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