Effects of GA3 and BA on quantitative and qualitative traits of Date palm (cv. Estaamaran) in Ahvaz

Growth regulators have important effects on improvement of quality and quantity of horticultural commodities. In this research, to study the effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on quantitative and qualitative traits of date fruit cv. Estaamaran, an experiment was conducted in the palm collection of date palm tropical fruits research institute of Iran Ahvaz in 2010. The experiment was split plot in block completely randomized design with four replications. Experimental factors included 2 times of hormone spraying (20 and 40 days after pollination) in main plots and 9 hormonal mixture (control: distilled water), 50 ppm BA, 100 ppm BA, 100 ppm GA3, 200 ppm GA3, 50 ppm BA+ 100 ppm GA3, 100 ppm BA+ 100 ppm GA3, 50 ppm BA+ 200 ppm GA3, 100 ppm BA+ 200 ppm GA3) in sub plots. Different parameters including fresh weight, length, diameter, L/D, firmness, dry weight and fruits water content, length and diameter of seed, pH, total acidity (TA) and total soluble solids (TSS) of fruits were measured. The results showed that direct effects of hormone spraying time and hormonal mixture had significant effects on parameters such as fruit firmness, yield, fruit's number in clusters, reducing, non reducing and total sugars. First time of hormone spraying had a significant effect on diameter, L/D, firmness, dry weight, fruits water content and seed weight, yield, fruit's number in clusters, reducing, non reducing and total sugars. Also, second hormone spraying time was significant on traits of seed weight and diameter, yield, fruit's number in a clusters, reducing, non reducing and total sugars. Mean comparisons showed that hormonal mixture of 100 ppm BA+ 200 ppm GA3 had the best affect on traits of palm date cv. Estaamaran and could be recommended.