EFFECT OF BRASSINOSTEROID ON SOME OF THE PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DATE PALM FRUITS (PHOENIX DACTYLIFERA L.) CV. BARHI UNDER DROUGHT STRESS

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the most economically important plants worldwide. The dates' quality and quantity were affected by several stresses, especially drought. Brassinosteroid (BR) is a new class of hormones that can be used with many plants in different stages of life to resist or overcome the effects of abiotic stresses such as drought. This study aims to study the BR effect on some physico-chemical characteristics of date palm fruits at two stages (Chimri and Khalal) under drought stress. Four concentrations of the BR (0, 0.2, 0.5 and 1 mu mol) were studied, interacting with three irrigation times (once every 1, 2 and 3 weeks). The studied characteristics of the date fruit are the fresh and dry weight, dry weight percentage, water content, TSS and total acidity. The randomized complete block design was used for the field experiment and the SPSS program was used as a statistical program to analyze the experimental data. The interacting effects of Brassinosteroid with irrigation periods showed significant increases in fresh weight, dry weight, dry matter, TSS, and date length and diameter. On the other hand, significant decreases in the water content and total acidity, especially at BR concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mu mol gave the highest significant differences. The results proved that BR is a key factor in drought stress on date palm fruits at the Chimri and Khalal stages.