This study aims to evaluate the current situation and diversity of indigenous cattle breeds in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A survey was executed in five regions of the KSA. We recorded population sizes, phenotypes and rearing conditions. Taurine Bos taurus and zebu Bos indicus populations were found. The zebu cattle include two breeds; the Hassawi and the Janobi. The Hassawi breed was found in the eastern region and it is in decreasing number. It may become extinct soon in the absence of conservation plan. Janobi remains common with thousand animals in the south-western part of the country. Only one indigenous taurine cow, showing no phenotypic evidence of zebu introgression, was found in the Central region of KSA (Najd Plateau). This cow might be the last pure indigenous Saudi Arabia taurine animal and therefore, the breed is now close to extinction. We advocate the urgency to design conservation plan for the indigenous livestock of the KSA and to complement these with phenotypic as well as genotypic information.

Introduction. There is a growing demand in the international market for excellent-quality dates of cultivars such as ‘Barhee’ that are consumed at the bisir stage. Materials and methods. The effects of GA3, BA and NAA postharvest dipping treatments at different concentrations on the quality characteristics of bisir ‘Barhee’ dates during cold storage were investigated. Results and discussion. The total soluble solids (TSS) concentration was lower in the BA- and NAA-treated fruit than in control fruit. Similarly, the GA3-treated fruit at 150 mg·L-1 contained a lower TSS concentration than control fruit. The GA3 at 150 mg·L-1, BA at 60 mg·L-1 and NAA at (100 and 150) mg·L-1 increased vitamin C concentration compared with other treatments. Acidity and total phenol concentrations were not affected by any of the treatments. The date soluble tannin concentration was higher than control fruit only in the dates treated with 20 mg BA·L-1. The weight loss % was lower in the BA-treated fruit at (20 and 60) mg·L-1 compared with all other treatments, while GA3 treatment at 50 mg·L-1 increased fruit weight loss % compared with control fruit. The percentage of dates at the rutab stage (index for fruit ripening) was lower for fruit treated with GA3than for control fruit. Also, the rutab stage % was lower for fruit treated with BA at 40 mg·L-1 and NAA at 150 mg·L-1 compared with control fruit. The TSS concentration decreased during storage from the initial day to day 20. However, there were no further decreases in the TSS concentration after (40 and 60) days of storage. The acidity concentration was slightly increased during storage. The vitamin C concentration increased until 40 days of storage, then a slight decrease occurred. The total phenol concentration decreased after (40 and 60) days of storage compared with the initial level. The soluble tannin concentration slightly increased at day 20 but sharply decreased after (40 and 60) days of storage compared with the initial level. Both weight loss and rutab stage % gradually increased during storage. There were significant interaction effects between growth regulators and storage period on TSS, vitamin C concentration, weight loss and rutab stage %.

Introduction. Environmental conditions and cultural practices vary considerably from one region to another. Therefore, a long-term study was carried out to investigate the horticultural adaptability and performance of ‘Olinda Valencia’ and ‘Parent Washington Navel’ orange trees on nine commercial rootstocks in the Najran area of Saudi Arabia. Materials and methods. The trees were planted in 1987 with a (6.0 × 6.0) m spacing and a density of 278 trees·ha–1. Fruit yield, fruit size, individual fruit weight, peel thickness, percent of juice, soluble solids and acid were measured. Results. Over the 7-year production period, trees on Volkamer lemon (VL), Citrus macrophylla (Cm) and rough lemon (RL) were the most productive and trees on Cleopatra mandarin (Cleo) and Swingle citrumelo (Sc) were the least productive. Trees on Sour orange (SO), Amblycarpa, Carrizo citrange (CC) and C. taiwanica (Ct) were intermediate in fruit production. The greatest fruit individual weight and largest fruit were found on trees budded on RL, VL and Cm, while the lowest fruit weight and smallest fruit were found on trees budded on Cleo and SO. Trees on RL had the lowest juice content. Fruit from trees on CC and SO accumulated the highest soluble solids and fruit from trees on Cm and Ct accumulated the lowest soluble solids. Valencia trees produced more fruit with higher juice content and soluble solids than Navel trees. Conclusion. Overall, trees on Swingle citrumelo and Cleopatra mandarin performed most poorly. Trees on vigorous rootstocks (Volkamer lemon, C. macrophylla, rough lemon) performed better and were more productive than trees on other rootstocks and Valencia trees were more profitable than Navel trees.