Effect of Strand Thinning on Yield and Fruit Quality of Egyptian Dry Date Palm ( Phoenix DactyliferaL.) cv. Sultani

Abstract

Strand thinning is one of the common cultural practices used by Egyptian date palm farmers to reduce the incidence of alternate bearing, increase flowering, reduce the compactness of bunches, and improve yield and fruit quality. Five treatments of strand thinning were carried out; 15% strand thinning on the day of pollination, 30% strand thinning on the day of pollination, 15% strand thinning 15 days after pollination, 30% strand thinning 15 days after pollination, and the control. Compared to the control, all thinning treatments improved fruit weight, flesh weight, and tannin, vitamin C, and total and reducing sugars concentrations. Thinning 30% of strands 15 days after pollination resulted in the best physical and chemical characteristics compared to other thinning treatments.