Metaxenia In Date Palm: Pollen sources and pollination frequency affects yield and fruit quality of date palm - Tapa blanda

Date palm fruit is always taken as a gift from Almighty ALLAH by dint of which it also signifies the glory of the Islamic world. The fruit has been quoted in 20 verses of the Holy Quran. In Pakistan, date palm is considered to be the third major fruit crop after citrus and mango and it is the fifth largest date producer in the world. Dates are rich in certain nutrients and provide a good source of rapid energy due to their high carbohydrates content. These are being rich in potassium and extremely low in sodium are desirable food for hypersensitive persons. For commercial cultivation of date palm artificial pollination is required using compatible pollen source. The pollen has been found to exert a direct influence on the size, shape and color of the fruit and seed of different varieties. The influence of the male parent on the development of the date fruit is precise and definite and varies with the particular male used to fecundate the female flowers. Cultivar 'Dhakki' is one of the most important date palm of the country and is famous for fresh, dry and 'Chouara' making.

Mr. Muhammad Shafiq is a PhD student in Inst. of Hort. Sci., University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 34060 Pakistan. He done his M.Sc (Hons.) under the kind supervision of Dr. Ahmad Sattar Khan, Assistant Professor in the same institute.