determination of pollen type and suitable pollination time in medjhol date palm

to determine the effects of different pollen types and suitable pollination time in medjhol date palm, an experiment was carried out with three pollen cultivars: ghaname, vardy and samesmave and two pollination times (1-3 days before or after spathe opening) during 2010-2011 in date palm and tropical fruit research institute in ahwaz. the results showed that the vardy pollen had the most significant effects on fertility%, no. of fruit per strand and fruit yield, but had no effect on fruit quality traits (total sugar, acidity, and bricx). the pollination time showed no effect on the fruit quality traits in spathe opening stage, while increased fertility% and no. of fruit per strand, and decreased fruit weight and date palm yield, significantly. interaction of pollination time × pollen type showed the highest palm yield (19.9kg.plant-1) can be achieved from  vardy pollen in 1-3 days after spathe opening stage.