EFFECT OF SPRAYING SEAWEED EXTRACT KELPAK AND WHEY AND THEIR INTERACTION ON FRUIT QUALITY OF FIVE CULTIVARS OF DATE PALM PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L.

Abstract

This study was conducted in one of the orchards at Abu-ElKhasib district- Basrah city during the season 2015-2016 to study the effect of whey and marine algae extract Kelpak (5 ml l-1) on fruits qualities of five species of date palms (Halawi, Saier, Barhee, Luluy and Bobkee(. The results showed variation among species because of the genetic material. Whey spraying treatment showed the highest results for most of the fruits qualities (fruit length, fruit drop, fruit weight, dry weight and TSS) (35.88 mm, 25.36 mm, 10.22 gm, 4 438% and 47.21% respectively) .Treatment of marine algae extract significantly effected on length and weight of seed, wet weight, decade ratio and bunch weight (2.361 mm, 1 260 mm, 69.25%, 79.91% and 10.81 kg respectively). The result of Luluy species had highest values of length, size, total and dry weight of fruits, while Barhee significantly exceeded in fruit diameter, water content of fruits, decade ratio, TSS and bunch weight. Interaction had significantly effect on most of the studied fruit qualities