Investigating the Variations in Botanical Characteristics of Date Palm Seedlings According to Different Germinating Conditions

The seeds of 'Begum Jangi' variety of date palm have been brought from Kech (Turbat) District of Balochistan Province, Pakistan, and first time planted in Çanakkale Province of Turkey in order to germinate them under different soil conditions in 2016. The average weight (0.6418gr) of date palm seeds was measured using an electronic balance prior to planting them into flowerpots. In this study, the first germination of date palm seeds was observed in the 5th replication of 100% peat (height: 5.52mm; diameter: 2.33mm) and 25% peat+75% sand (height: 11.16mm; diameter: 2.85mm) treatment plots. The highest temperature and the highest ratio of relative humidity were recorded as 26.6°C and 72% R.H; respectively, while the lowest temperature was 12.8°C and the lowest relative humidity occurred as 31% during the study period. The obtained data from the experiment were subjected to analysis of variance using the JMP 11 statistical package program. Differences between each application were determined by using the Duncan's Multiple Range Test (P≤0.05). According to the overall mean results of the study, the highest seedling height of date palm was determined as 44.07 mm in 25% sand + 75% peat followed by 100% peat containing flowerpots with a height of 35.72 mm, while the lowest seedling height (10.25 mm) was determined in the growing medium containing 100% sand. The plant seedling height was found statistically significant according to different planting dates and different growing conditions. In plant seedlings, the highest stem diameter was recorded as 1.92 mm in flowerpots containing 25 % sand+75 % peat, while the lowest stem diameter of the seedlings was determined as 1.18 mm in flowerpots containing 75% sand+25 % peat. When the data regarding plant biomass are examined, the highest biomass amount of the seedlings of date palm was determined as 3.11g with 25% sand + 75% peat growing condition, and the lowest amount of plant biomass was recorded as 1.89g with 100% sand growing medium.