The effect of external application of palm pollen grains extracts on Phoenix dactylifera cv. Zaghloul fruits quality

This study was carried out to examine the effect of aqueous or ethanolic date palm pollen grain extract on Phoenix dactylifera , cv. Zaghloul fruits. Pollen grain extracts were prepared from male date palm trees cv. Barhi. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design during two consecutive seasons with three spraying treatments, i.e. control (distilled water), aqueous or ethanolic date palm pollen grain extract. Each treatment was sprayed twice, i.e. at the Hababouk (fruit’ cell division) and Kimri (fruit’ cell elongation) stages. The results indicated that spraying of 700 ppm aqueous or ethanolic date palm pollen grain extract significantly improved the productivity and quality of 'Zaghloul' fruits by increasing the dry matter, crude fiber, ash, total soluble solids, reducing, non-reducing, and total soluble sugars, total carbohydrates, protein, and mineral nutrients concentrations as well as the peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities as compared to the control. Also, the external application of aqueous or ethanolic extracts enhanced fruit amino acids acquisition, and total phenols, whereas decreased moisture percentage, titratable acidity, and tannins concentrations in treated date palm fruits. Evidences might indicate that ethanolic date pollen grains extract followed by aqueous extract improve 'Zaghloul' fruit yield as compared to control by regulating the nutrients acquisition, sugar accumulation, amino acids profile, and antioxidant response. These findings could support the use of ethanolic or aqueous date pollen grain extract as a bio-stimulant to improve date palm fruit yield and quality.