الفهرس 
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Abstract
Date palm cultivar selected for this trial was “Saiedy” at the same age (10 years old) and size at El-Dakhla Oasis, at New Valley Governorate, Egypt. The experiment was repeated for two successive seasons (2019 and 2020).
The trials were set up in a three-replications using complete randomized block design (one palm per each replication). Both leaves and bunches were pruned to achieve a specific bunch/palm and leaves/bunch ratio, randomly to 7 different treatments as follows:
1-Control (only the dead leaves were discarded).
2-bunch/palm, 8 leaves / bunch.
3-bunch/palm, 9 leaves / bunch.
4-bunch/palm, 10 leaves / bunch.
5- bunch/palm, 8 leaves / bunch.
6- bunch/palm, 9 leaves / bunch.
7- bunch/palm, 10 leaves / bunch.
During the first half of September, the yield of experimental trees was gathered. The average bunch weight was measured in kg/ palm. The physical as (fruit weight, flesh weight, seed weight (g), fruit size and dimensions (length, diameter (cm) and fruit shape) as well as fruit volume (cm3)) and chemical parameters of 10 date fruits were determined as (fruit moisture, TSS%, sugar content (reducing, non-reducing and total sugar), total acidity, phenols and total antioxidant activity.
The obtained results could be summarized as follows:
Physical parameters:
- Fruit, flesh and seed weight:
With increasing of bunches and leaf: bunches ration found an increase in fruit and flesh weight during both seasons of the experiment and gave the heaviest weight for both fruit and flesh with treatment of (10 bunch/palm + 9 leaves / bunch) comparing to the control. While the seed weight had no significant effect.
- Bunch weight and fruit volume:
The Saiedy cultivar bunch weight and fruit volume mean values increase with increasing ratio of bunch/palm and leaves/bunch, the highest mean values observed with (10 bunch/palm + 9 leaves / bunch) comparing to other treatments and control.
- Fruit size and dimensions:
As for the fruit size and dimensions includes (fruit length, diameter and shape index), it was found an increase in fruit length, diameter and shape index with increasing the bunch/palm and leaves/bunch ratio and the highest dimensions recorded with the treatment of (10 bunch/palm + 9 leaves / bunch) then decreased with other treatment and the lowest values recorded with the control.
Chemical parameters
- Fruit moisture and TSS%:
Fruit moisture% and TSS% of “Saiedy” fruits increased significantly with increasing number of bunch and leaves. The highest moisture content and TSS% were shown to be substantially correlated with treatment T5 (10 bunch/palm + 9 leaves / bunch) during both seasons.
- Sugar content%:
Sugars content includes (reducing, non-reducing and total sugar). The highest reducing, non-reducing and total sugar % induced significantly by increasing bunch/palm and leaves /bunch ratio treatments comparing to the control (un-thinning). The highest mean value of sugars content was associated with treatment of (10 bunch/palm + 9 leaves / bunch).
- Total acidity, phenols and total antioxidant activity:
The response of fruit titratable acidity % to the ratio of bunch/palm and leaves/bunch was significantly decreased with increasing bunch/palm and leaves/bunch ratio. The greatest total acidity in Saiedy fruit was associated in check treatment. As for the effect of bunch/palm and leaves/bunch ratio on the phenolics and total antioxidant content, it was found an increase with increasing bunch/palm and leaves/bunch ratio and the highest mean value observed with the treatment of (10 bunch/palm + 9 leaves / bunch) followed by 10 bunch/palm + 8 leaves / bunch, in compared with the lowest value which indicated with control during both seasons.
Conclusion:
In regard of the previously mentioned results, it can be recommended that 10 bunch/palm and 9 leaves / bunch was the most suitable pruning treatment for Saiedy data palm fruit measurements studied under El-Dakhla Oaisis, New valley Governorate.