Effect of spraying with salicylic acid and boron in some yield characteristics and its components for date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) cvs. zahdi and khestawi

Abstract

The study has been conducted in one of the orchards in Arbagat region in Abu-Ghariab district west of Baghdad in order to study three levels of Salicylic acid 0-spraying with water only, 100 and 150 mg L-1, and three levels of Boron; 0-spraying with water only, 15 and 30 mg L-1, in order to enhance fruits quality and increasing the productivity of two cultivars of palm tree (Zehdi and Khestawi). A factorial arrangement (2*3*3) Cultivars was used in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Fifty four homogenized palm trees were selected with age of 8-10 years (27 palm tree for each cultivar). Trees were similar in size and nature of growth as possible, each tree considered as a replicate. Results showed that the level 150 mg SA L-1 was superior in fruit length, and the level 30 mg B L-1 and 150 mg SA L-1 was superior in boron concentration in fruits, seed weight, fruit flesh, raceme, weight of cluster and total yield. The two way interaction 30 mg B L-1+ 150 mg SA L-1 and Khestawi cultivar gave highest averages of Boron concentration in fruit, fruit flesh, cluster weight and total yield in comparison with the control, whereas the same combination showed with Zehdi cultivar superiority in average of seed weight and raceme weight compared with the control. The response was significant for Khestawi cultivar in comparison with Zehdi cultivar in terms of yield and its components. However the high concentrations of SA and B and their interaction achieved best results in all studied traits.