




































Bangladesh Journal of Multidisciplinary Scientific Research 

 Vol. 3, No. 2; 2021 

ISSN 2687-850X   E-ISSN 2687-8518  

Published by CRIBFB, USA 

 

21 

DETERMINATION OF FRUIT DEVELOPMENT STAGES 

AND PRODUCTION OF DATES IN KHAIRPUR SINDH 

PAKISTAN 
 

Dr. Muhammad Mahmood-Ur-Rahman Jamro 

Principal Scientific Officer 

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council  

Arid Zone Research Institute Technology Field Station Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan 

E-mail: mrjamro@yahoo.com 

 

Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Abbasi 

Assistant Professor 

Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Agriculture College Dokri 

Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan 

E-mail: zaabbasi786@gmail.com 

 

Dr. Ali Sher Chandio 

Principal Scientific Officer 

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council-Southern Zone Agricultural Research Centre  

Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan 

E-mail: azam.parc@gmail.com 

 

ABSTRACT 
The study was conducted to record fruit development stages of nine Date palm cultivars from 

spathe initiation to harvest. The data was recorded as per each parameter; finally mean days 

were calculated at completion of each fruit development stage. The results revealed that all 

cultivars initiated spathes from 8th January to 26th February. Significant differences were 

recorded in all physiological fruit development stages. The minimum period of (13.66 days) 

and maximum (24.00 days) were taken by Shakri and Begum jangi respectively up to the spathe 

maturity stage, whereas Aseel taken (14.33 days) and Dhaki recorded (27.00 days) to 

pollination. In the fruit setting (Hababuk stage) Hussaini noted minimum period of (44.33 days) 

and Muzawati observed maximum (57.66 days). In Doka formation (Kimri stage, the Hussaini 

cultivar recorded lowest period of (71.33 days) and Muzawati taken highest (99.33 days). Up 

to mature fruit (khalal stage) Begum jangi attained the minimum (110.33 days). However Fasli 

and Dhakki observed the maximum (153.67 days). At Rutab stage, the cultivar Begum jangi 

recorded lowest harvesting period (118.33 days) and Dhaki noted highest (158.00 days). In 

relation to the maximum yield Dhaki recoded (169.00 kg/plant) and Hussaini produced 

minimum yield (97.00 kg/plant). 

 

Keywords: Date Palm, Fruit Stages, Production, Varieties. 

 

INTRODUCTION 

Female plant of Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) bears fruit once a year; mostly it is 

consumed in fresh, dried and in different ways. It is one seeded oblong berry varying in ovate, 

obovate, spherical, elliptical, cylindrical shape (Markhand et al., 2010) with the terminal 

stigma, fleshy pericarp and a membranous endocarp. Dates are classified into soft, semi soft, 

dry and semi dry according to harvest time (Chao & Krueger, 2007). Generally Dates take 

about 6-7 months from spathe emergence to fully ripened. Fruit formation starts after the 



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application of pollens by hand or mechanical ways. One male plant is sufficient for pollination 

to fifty female plants. The pollen flowers are cut from the male tree and applied to the female 

blooms when spathe of female plant cracks naturally which means that, it is ready for 

pollination. After removing of a hard cover around the spathe, a cluster of flowers is inserted 

into female inflorescence to assure fruit set. For successful pollination, high potent pollen 

source plays a significant role (Benmehaia & Baka, 2015). The pollination efficacy depends 

on the pollination time, flowering period of male, viability, quantity and female flower 

receptivity. Awad and Qureshi (2012) reported that pollen affects directly on the receptiveness 

of female flower. Abbas et al. (2012) also observed differences in female flower receptivity. 

Satisfactory pollination results can be obtained within two or four days after spathe opening. 

Five growth and development stages of dates are considered. Among them the Hababouk is an 

earliest stage of fruit, it is also called ‟baby fruit” which starts after fertilization and lasts for 

4-5 weeks by the loss of two unfertilized carpals. During that period fruit weighs up to one 

gram with 85 to 90% moisture (Fadel et al., 2006). After that second phase of fruit growth 

appears in 17 weeks subsequent to fertilization, depending upon location and cultivar. This 

segment is categorized also in two stages. In first period the dimension and mass of fruit quickly 

increase with additional sugar and water, whereas in second phase, weight, acidity and sugar 

occur with higher water (Fallahi, 1996).  In Tamar stage, fruit changes the color and attaining 

softness (Myhara et al., 1999). Generally due to availability of lesser water and greater amount 

of sugar; fruit of this stage is mostly stored (Hong et al., 2006; Awad, 2007). In Sindh, monsoon 

rains during the months of July and August, these are peak production periods of Date palm. 

Even for the short duration, rainfall extremely harmful and causes heavy fruit loss. Therefore, 

the study was conducted to examine the fruit development stages as Date palm cultivars can be 

categorized according to their maturity period.  

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS 

Nine Date palm cultivars specifically Shakri, Fasli, Karbalain, Aseel, Dhaki, Hussaini, Eidal 

Shah, Muzawati and Begum jangi were selected for study which were already grown in the 

field of Date Palm Research Station Kot Diji, Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan. During the fruiting 

season of 2018 and 2019, plants were selected, based upon age uniformity (10 – 15 years old), 

they were free of insects’ damage and diseases. Five plants from each cultivar were selected 

and kept under the regular schedule of cultural practices. The experiment was carried out under 

completely randomized design with three replications. The data for different parameters i.e. 

Date of spathe initiation, Days taken to spathe maturity, Days taken to pollination, Days taken 

to fruit setting (Hababuk stage, Days taken to Doka formation (Kimri stage, Days taken to 

Dang formation (Rutab stage), Days taken to harvest, yield/plant (Kg). The collected data 

analyzed for analysis of variance (ANOVA) using a Statistix version 8.1 software technique 

(Statistix, 2006). The least significant difference test (LSD) was used at alpha 0.05 for comparing 

differences of treatments. 

 

Table 1. Fruit development stages and yield of Date palm cultivars during crop season 2018 and 

2019  

 
S.No Name of 

cultivar 

Date of 

spathe 

initiation 

Days taken 

to spathe 

maturity 

Days taken to 

pollination 

Days taken to 

fruit setting 

(Hababuk 

stage) 

Days taken to 

immature 

Doka formation 

(Kimri stage) 

Days taken to 

mature Doka 

formation 

(Khalal stage), 

 

Days taken to 

Harvesting 

(Dang 

formation 

Rutab stage) 

yield/plant 

(Kg) 

(Rutab 

stage) 

1 Shakri 20-26 

January 

13.66c 21.66bc 47.33bc 81.00de 135.33c 142.67e 156.33ab 

2 Fasli 25-31 

January 

19.00abc 22.33b 49.00b 87.33bc 153.67a 157.67ab 148.00abc 



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3 Karbalain 08-14 

February 

17.00bc 18.33d 46.00bc 76.00ef 147.33b 155.67ab 150.67ab 

4 Aseel 10-16 

February 

14.00c 14.33e 48.33b 82.66cd 147.67b 153.00bc 109.67bc 

5 Dhaki 09-15 

February 

21.33ab 27.00a 54.66a 88.33b 153.67a 158.00a 169.00a 

6 Hussaini 06-12 

February 

20.33ab 24.00ab 44.33c 71.33f 128.33e 149.67cd 97.000c 

7 Eidal Shah 12-18 

February 

16.66bc 17.66d 45.66bc 77.33de 133.67cd 145.00de 107.67bc 

8 Muzawati 13-19 

February 

19.00abc 22.00bc 57.66a 99.33a 131.33de 141.33e 146.67abc 

9 Begum 

jangi 

20-26  

February 

24.00a 26.33a 44.66c 97.33a 110.33f 118.33f 130.33abc 

 CV 5.67 3.18 3.44 5.34 3.61 4.918 51.33 

In each column means followed by common letter are not significantly different at 5% 

probability level.

 

RESULT AND DISCUSSION 

Results of the study presented in (Table 1) revealed that among the cultivars, each fruit 

development stage differed significantly. The spathe emergence initiated from 20th January to 

26th February during both seasons. Shakri and Fasli cultivars found earlier in the spathe 

emergence. However cultivar, Begum jangi observed late (fourth, week) of February. These 

months are considered as very suitable for spathe emergence in Sindh due to low temperature. 

The Begum jangi and Dhakki cultivars recorded maximum (24.00, 20.33 days) spathe maturity 

period respectively. Whereas Shakri cultivar taken the minimum period of (13.66 days) 

accordingly. The variation in spathe maturation depends on the variety, environmental 

conditions and management practices (Zaid & Wet, 2002; Al-Yahyai & Al-Kharusi, 2012). 

Due to dioeciously nature of Date palm, pollination is considered a significant factor 

which affects fruit set, yield and fruit quality. The period of receptivity differs with diverse 

weather factors and cultivars (Shaheen, 1986; Marzouk et al., 2002a). In this study Dhakki 

taken maximum (27.00 days) to pollination, after spathe initiation followed by (26.33, 24.00, 

22.33, 22.00, 21.66, 18.33, 17.66 and 14.33) Begum jangi, Hussaini, Fasli, Muzawati, Shakri, 

Karbalain, Eidal shah and Aseel respectively. After spathe maturity male pollens were applied 

within 2-7 days according to the opening of Spathe. These results are supported by (El-Kassas 

& Mahmoud, 1984; El-Salhy et al., 2011) they reported that after spathe cracking optimum 

period for female flower accessibility considered within three to four days. But according to 

the previous studies scientists reported that, this period could be extended up to 5 days (Ahmed 

& Shaikh, 1971) seven days (Gupta & Thatai, 1980) seven-twelve days (Stoler, 1972) eight-

ten days (Pereau-Leroy, 1957) nine days (Al-Bajallani et al., 1989) ten days. After pollination 

four to seven days are considered for high fruit quality and yield (Marzouk et al., 2002b; Al-

Wasfy 2005; Samih, 2006; Moustafa, 1998; Dammas, 1998). Delaying pollination significantly 

reduce fruit set, fruit retention; consequently bunch weight reduction as compared to immediate 

pollinated female spathe. 

Hababouk is the earliest stage of fruit development which occurs by the loss of two 

unfertilized carpels. Since date of spathe initiation, the maximum days (57.66) by Muzawati 

followed by Dhakki (54.66), Fasli (49.00), Aseel (48.33), Shakri (47.33), Karbalain (46.00), 

Eidal shah (45.66), Begum jangi (44.66) and Hussaini (44.33) were recorded. The disparity in 

days taken to the fruit set may be accredited to genetic characters of pollen source. These 

findings are also in close agreement with the results of Iqbal et al. (2012) who observed that 

source of pollen has a significant effect on days to the fruit setting in date palm. The maximum 

(99) days in cultivar Muzawati followed by Begum jangi (97.33), Dhakki (88), Fasli (87.33), 



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Aseel (82.66), Shakri (81.00), Eidal shah (77.33), Karbalain (76.00) and Hussaini (71.33) were 

noted at Kimri stage (immature green stage). Variation in days to Kimri stagte might be due to 

variety and location.   

Fasli and Dhakki cultivars recorded, the maximum (153.67) days followed by 147.33, 

135.33, 133.67, 131.33 and 110.33 by Karbalain and Aseel, Shakri, Eidal shah, Muzawati and 

Begum jangi respectively in Khalal (mature stage) since spathe initiation. The speedy fruit 

growth from kimri to khalal stage is mostly due to the quick cell division and process of 

elongation. These results are generally in agreement with past reports of (Bacha et al., 1987; 

Al-Qurashi, 2010). It was also noticed that fruit growth characters increased progressively as 

fruit matures and growth seizes after reaching Khalal (colored stage) (Awad et al., 2011; Al-

Hootie et al., 1997) also established these results. 

The studied cultivars were harvested on Rutab stage. The maximum 158.00 days since 

spathe initiation to harvesting were recorded by Dhakki cultivar, whereas minimum 118.33 

days, for the same stage was recorded by cultivar Begum jangi. However, other varieties Fasli, 

Karbalain, Aseel, Hussaini, Eidal shah, Shakri and Muzawati recorded 157.67, 155.67, 153.00, 

149.67, 145.00, 142.67 and 141.33 days since spathe initiation to harvesting respectively. It is 

noticed that Dhakki cultivar taken maximum duration up to Tamar stage due to its larger size 

of fruit. These results are in agreement with the conclusion of Al-Khalifah (2006) who 

concluded that the pollen source had considerable effect on fruit maturity.  

The cultivar Dhakki produced highest fruit yield (169 kg/plant) at the Rutab stage, 

whereas Shakri, Karbalain, Fasli, Muzawati, Begum jangi, Aseel, Eidal shah and Hussaini 

produced 156.33, 150.67, 148.00, 146.67, 130.33, 109.67, 107.67 and 97.00 kg/plant 

respectively. The results indicated that Dhakki cultivar recorded maximum yield which is due 

to higher fruit setting, fruit weight, size and high moisture content. 

As per key objective of this study when the results were compared on the basis of 

harvesting period, it was noted that Begum jangi and Shakri cultivars were harvested during 

the last week of June. Muzawati, Hussaini and Fasli were harvested in the first week of July. 

Aseel, Karbalain, Eidal shah in the second week of July and Dhakki was harvested during the 

fourth week of July.  

 

CONCLUSION 

From the results of this study it can be concluded that except Begum jangi and Shakri which 

are still not considered commercial Dates; other cultivars falls in the monsoon period. 

Therefore, protection measures from rain and availability of other varieties for this province is 

suggested as the Dates sector of Sindh can be secured for future consumption and trade. 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 

Authors gratefully acknowledge Mr. Zakir Hussain Mahessar, Director Date palm research 

station Kot Diji, Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan for provision of research facilities throughout the 

study. 

 

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