Introduction

 Date palm has long been cultivated in Saudi Arabia. Dates used to be a principle component of peoples' diet in the country. Now, date palm cultivation is expanding and date production contributes largely to the agricultural economy of Saudi Arabia. The Plant Production Department recognized the importance of date palm trees since the establishment of the College of Food & Agricultural Sciences by emphasizing both education and research work on date palms.

 Objectives

Date palm research unit aims at promoting date palm agriculture through education, research and extension. Research programs tackle most of the problems facing date palm agriculture in collaboration with related College departments as well as with other national and international organizations dealing with date palm.

         Some Red Colored Date Cultivars

 Some Yellow Colored Date Cultivars

Achievements

The followings are lists of publications, extension bulletins and workshops attended by faculty members of the Department on various research aspects

 Propagation

Shahin, M.A., and A.A. Said (1986). Effect of activated charcoal on tissue culture in date palm. Proceeding of the second symposium on the date palm in Saudia Arabia.Al-Hassa,Saudi rabia,King Faisal University:1o7-113.(Abstract) (Full text)

El-Hammady, M.A., F.A. Al-mana and M.A. Basha (1992). Effect of some cultural practices on protect on successful and agricultural date palm offshoot. Journal science. Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo,Univ.Egypt.43(4):1287-1302. (Abstract) (Full text)

El-Hammady, M.A., F.A. Al-mana, and M.A. Basha (1992).Rotting date palm offshoot using modified mist irrigation. J.Annals Agric..Sci,Ain Shams Univ., Cairo,37 (2): 523-529.  (Abstract) ( (Full text)

Al-mana, F.A., M.A. El-Hammady, M.A. Basha and A.O. Abdul-Rahman (1996). Increasing of roots formation of date palm offshoot. J. Principes, Society  date palm international" USA.40(4):179-181.(Abstract) (Full text)

Said, A.A., and M.A. Shahin (1996).Response of parts from different source date palm  to deformation inside glass contaner. .J. College of Food &Agric.Sciences,King Saud Univ.8( 1): 191-204. (Abstract) (Full text)

Pollination

Abo-Alhasne, A.A, T.A. Nasr and H. Alshaks (1982). Effect of pollen type and Storage on fruiting in Khudary date palm. Proceeding of the first symposium on the date palm in Saudia Arabia.Al-Hassa,Saudi rabia,King Faisal University:102-105.(Abstract) (Full text)

Shahin, M.A., M.A. Basha and T.A. Nasr (1986). Micro-moeculers of Pollen grains  males in date palm. Proceeding of the first symposium on the date palm in Saudia Arabia.Al-Hassa,Saudi rabia,King Faisal University:253-260. (Abstract) (Full text)

Shahin, M.A., T.A. Nasr and M.A. Basha (1986).Storage pollen grains and relationship in date palm. Proceeding of the second symposium on the date palm in Saudia Arabia.Al-Hassa,Saudi rabia,King Faisal University:102-105. (Abstract) (Full text)

Nasr, T.A., M.A. Shahin and M.A. Basha (1986). Evaluation of males date palm used in pollination in medal region kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Proceeding of the second symposium on the date palm in Saudia Arabia.Al-Hassa,Saudi Arabia, King Faisal University:337-346.    (Abstract) (Full text)

Nasr, T.A., M.A. Shahin and M.A. Basha (1988). Receptivity of pistillate flowers in some Riyadh Region date palm cultivars.J. College of Food &Agric.Sciences,King Saud Univ. 10( 1): 121-128. (Abstract) (Full text)

Shahin, M.A., M.A. Basha and T.A. Nasr ( 1988). Effect of  male type on chemical characteristics in fruit some date palm cultivars.J.Annals Agric..Sci,Ain Shams Univ., Cairo,34 (1): 265-281. (Full text)

Shahin, M.A., T.A. Nasr and M.A. Basha ( 1988). Effect of  male type on  fruit set ,  yield and  fruit physical characteristics in some date palm  cultivars.J. Annals Agric..Sci,Ain Shams Univ., Cairo,34 (1):283-299.(Abstract) (Full text)

Basha M.A, M.A. Shahin and T.A. Nasr ( 1993). Effect of  different male type date palm on mineral contents  of fruit in some date palm cultivars grown in medal region  in Saudi Arabia Kingdom. Proceeding of the third symposium on the date palm in Saudi Arabia.Al-Hassa,Saudi  Arabia ,King Faisal University:543-554.

Basha M.A, A.A. Albadahe and M.A. El-Hammady (1997). Effect quantity pollen grains used in pollination on some date palm cultivars grown in Riyadh of Saudi Arabia kingdom. 1-Percentage of set and yield. Proceeding of the First symposium Agric. Sci. College of Food & Agric. Sciences, King Saud Univ.201-220.

Basha M.A, A.A. Albadahe and M.A. El-Hammady (1997). Effect quantity pollen grains used in pollination on some date palm cultivars grown in Riyadh of Saudi Arabia kingdom. 2- Fruit physical and chemical characteristics. Proceeding of the first symposium Agric. Sci. College of Food & Agric. Sciences, King Saud Univ.201-220.

Basha M.A, M.A. Aly., R.S. Al-Obeed and A.O. Abdul-Rahman (1999). Studies on compatibility uncompatibility in some date palm cultivars. 12.

Al-Obeed., R.S. and A.O. Abdul-Rahman (2002). Compatibility relationships within and between ten date palm cultivars (Phoenix dactylifera L.).1- Fruit set and yield.J.Adv.Agric.Res.7(4).809-820. (Abstract) (Full text)

Al-Obeed, R.S. and A.O. Abdul-Rahman (2002). Compatibility relationships within and between ten date palm cultivars (Phoenix dactyllifera L.). 2-Physical and chemical fruit properties.  .J.Adv.Agric.Res.7(4).821-830. (Abstract) (Full text)

Fertilization

Abo-Alhasan, A.A. and M.A. Basha (1981). Studies on mineral contents of Manganese, Zinc and Copper in leaflets some date palm cultivars. The  first Arabian Conference palm and date. Baghdad, Iraq.  (Abstract)  (Full text)

Basha, M.A, and A.A. Abo-Alhasan (1982). Mineral contents of leaflets four Saudia Arabia date palm cultivars. J. College of Food &Agric. Sciences, King Saud Univ. 4: 35-42. (Abstract) (Full Text)

Basha, M.A, and A.A. Abo-Alhasan (1982). Effect of chemical fertilization on yield , fruit characteristics and  mineral contents of Khudary date palm cultivars. Proceeding of the first symposium on the date palm in Saudia Arabia.Al-Hassa,Saudi rabia,King Faisal University:174-180.

Basha, M.A, T.A Nasr and M.A. Shahin ( 1986). Mineral contents of leaflets in some males and females date palm. Proceeding of the second symposium on the date palm in Saudia Arabia. Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia, King Faisal University:347-352.

Basha, M.A, H.A. Al-Shamy and T.A. Nasr (1993). Seasonal change of some macronutrient in  leaflets  date palm. Proceeding of the third symposium on the date palm in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hassa, Saudi  Arabia ,King Faisal University:261-272.

Harhash, M.M. and G. Abdel-Nasser.(2007). Impact of Potassium fertilization and bunch thinning on Zaghloul date palm. Proceeding of the fourth symposium on the date palm in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hassa, Saudi  Arabia, King Faisal University.70. (Full Text)

Irrigation and Salinity

Basha. M.A, A.A. Al-Amod and A.M. Al-derby (1997). Responses of Salag date palm trees  for irrigation systems flood , bubbler, drip and different  irrigation levels. Proceeding of the first symposium Agric. Sci. College of Food & Agric. Sciences, King Saud Univ.251-270.

Harhash, M.M. and G. Abdel-Nasser (2007). Response of Seewy date palm cultivar to salinity of well water under Siwa Oasis conditions,Egypt.1- Vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality. Proceeding of the fourth symposium on the date palm in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hassa, Saudi  Arabia ,King Faisal University.p.61.

Abdel-Nasser, G. and M.M. Harhash (2007). Response of Seewy date palm cultivar to salinity of well water under Siwa Oasis conditions,Egypt.2-Leave and fruit elemental contents and soil chemical analysis. Proceeding of the fourth symposium on the date palm in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hassa, Saudi  Arabia, King Faisal University.p.62. (Abstract) (Full text)

Growth Regulators

Soliman, S.S. (2007). Effect of GA3 on yield fruit characteristics of Sakkoty date palm under Aswan conditions. Proceeding of the fourth symposium on the date palm in Saudi Arabia. Al-Hassa, Saudi  Arabia ,King Faisal University.111. (Full text)

Pruning and Tinning

Basha, M.A, M.A. Shahin (1986). Effect of different bunch/leaves on yield and fruit characteristics in Nebut-Seif and Razizy date palm cultivars. Journal Arabic Gulf for scientific research. 341-347. (Abstract) (Full text)

El-Hammady, M.A., M.A. Al-magraby and  M.A. Basha (1992). Effect of Ethyphon treatment on fruit tinning and properties in date palm Salag and Minify date palm  cultivars. J. Annals Agric. Sci, Ain Shams Univ., Cairo,37 (2): 531-538.

Al-magraby M.A., M.A., El-Hammady and M.A. Basha (1992). Effect of thinning or removal for bunches on fruit properties in Salag and Minify date palm cultivars. J. Annals Agric. Sci, Ain Shams Univ., Cairo,37 (2): 539-546. (Abstract) (Full text)

Chemical composition of fruit, leaves and pollen grains

Asaad, F.A., M.A. Basha and M.A. Shahin (1986). Chemical analysis of fruit some Saudia date cultivars and  mineral contents. Saudia Society of Life Science, Symposium (9):25-34.

Basha. M.A, T.A Nasr and M.A. Shahin (1986). Seasonal change of physical and chemical characteristics in four date cultivars. Saudia Society of Life Science, Symposium (10):285-296.

Shahin, M.A., M.A. Basha and T.A. Nasr (1988).Amino acid in pinnae of some date palm males.J. Annals Agric..Sci,Ain Shams Univ., Cairo,34 1): 301-312.

Basha M.A, M.A. Shahin and T.A. Nasr (1993).Study of fruit contents for some Saudi date palm cultivars from Ferric and Manganese. Proceeding of the third symposium on the date palm in Saudi Arabia.Al-Hassa,Saudi  Arabia ,King Faisal University:556-566.

 Basha M.A, M.A. Aly., and F.A. Farahat (1997). Chemical components of some pollen grains date palm  males grown Riyadh region Kingdom of Saudia Arabia. Journal Arabic Gulf for scientific research. 15(3):33-52. (Abstract) (Full text)

Physiological and Morphological Studies

Shahin, M.A., T.A. Nasr and M.A. Basha (1986).Comparative studies of morphological characteristics for some date palm males seeded. Proceeding of the second symposium on the date palm in Saudia Arabia.Al-Hassa,Saudi rabia,King Faisal University:261-273.

(Abstarct) (Full text)

Shahin, M.A., M.A. Basha and T.A.Nasr (1988).Effect of growth regulators on fruit productive seedless in some date palm cultivars.J. College of Food &Agric.Sciences,King Said Univ.10(1)129-138.(Abstract) (Full text)

Abd-Allah, A.A., M.A. Ali. and M.A. Basha (1997). Different morphological and yielded of some date palm grown kingdom of Saudi Arabia by principle components analysis analysis. Proceeding of the first symposium Agric.Sci.College of Food & Agric.Sciences,King Saud Univ.249-237. (Abstract) (Full text)

Mahmmod, A.A., and M.A. Basha (1999). Chromosomes properties in three date palm cultivars. Journal Sultan Qaboos Scin.Res." Agric.scin." Sultant Oman. (Abstract) (Full text)