This is a contribution presented as oral contribution in the Conference 'New Prospects for Science and Education in the MENA region', March, 9-11, 2012, Marrakech, Mrocco. See presentation 'date palm clones' as pdf file)
The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), a long lived dioecious monocotyledon, is an economically crop for many populations in the Maghreb countries. Traditionally, this species is propagated by offshoots produced by trees (average of 30 offshoots by tree during its live).
Considering the negative effect of many abiotic and biotic stresses (such as Bayoud disease) on date palm culture, a need for accelerating date palm propagation is an urgent action. The tissue culture of date palm includes organogenesis and embryogenesis techniques. In Morocco, vitro plants produced through organogenesis and planted in Errachidia region, were checked for their variations on two morphological characters regarding frequencies of inflorescence and offshoots produced by plant clones. Isoenzyme markers including peroxidases, polyphenooxidase, transaminases (GOT), esterases and endopeptidases, were used to characterize morphological traits. Plant clones derived from two selected seedling genotypes (S16 and S35) showed more inflorescence formation than the clones obtained from Jihel (JHL) and Bou-Skri (BSK) date palm cultivars. Using the factorial component analysis (ACP), date palm clones typified respectively. by high inflorescences and high offshoots formed two separate groups showing each one some isoenzyme characteristics. The possible occurrence of epigenetic variations in date palm clones is discussed.
Team Publications related to date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) propagation through tissue culture
ABOHATEM, M., CHAKRAFI, F., JAITI, F., DIHAZI, A & BAAZIZ, M. 2011. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi limit incidence of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. albedinis on date palm seedlings by increasing nutrient contents, total phenols and peroxidase activities. The Open Horticulture Journal 4, 10-16.
ABOHATEM, M., ZOUINE, J. & EL HADRAMI, I. 2011. Low concentrations of BAP and high rate of subcultures improve the establishment and multiplication of somatic embryos in date palm suspension cultures by limiting oxidative browning associated with high levels of total phenols and peroxidase activities. Scientia Horticulturae 130, 344-348.
BAAZIZ, M. 2011. Reconstitution des palmeraies. Rôle de la recherche scientifique .
إعادة إعمار واحات النخيل بالمغرب. دور البحث العلمي في مواكبة تنمية الواحات
Séminaire de sensibilisation et valorisation des écosystèmes oasiens pour un développement durable, 27-28 Septembre 2011, Foum El Hisn, Tata, Maroc, Morocco.
AZEQOUR, M., AMSSA, M. & BAAZIZ, M.2002. Identification de la variabilité intra-clonale des vitro-plants de palmier dattier issus de culture in vitro par organogenèse.
Etude morphologique. Comptes Rendus Biologie 325, 947-956.
AZEQOUR, M., MAJOURHAT, K. & BAAZIZ, M. 2002. Morphological variations and isoenzyme polymorphism of date palm clones from in vitro culture acclimatized and established on soil in south Morocoo. Euphytica 123, 57-66.
EL HADRAMI, I., CHEIKH, R.& BAAZIZ, M. 1995. Somatic embryogenesis
and plant regeneration from shoot-tip explants in Phoenix dactylifera
L.. Biologia Plantarum, 37, 205-211.
EL HADRAMI, I.& BAAZIZ, M. 1995. Somatic embryogenesis and analysis
of peroxidases in Phoenix dactylifera L.. Biologia Plantarum, 37, 197-203.
BAAZIZ, M., AISSAM, F., BRAKEZ, Z., BENDIAB, K., EL HADRAMI, I.& CHEIKH,
R. 1994. Electrophoretic patterns of acid soluble proteins and active isoforms of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase typifying calli and somatic embryos of two reputed date palm cultivars in Morocco.
Euphytica, 76, 159-168.
Thesis.
MAJOURHAT,
K. 2002. Etudes des aspects quantitatif et qualitatif des peroxydases
et des polyphénoloxydases du palmier dattier (Phoenix dactylifera
L.). Contribution à l'étude de la diversité génétique
de la palmeraie de Marrakech et des nouvelles plantations. thèse
de Doctorat en Biologie. Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech (Morocco).
EL HADRAMI, I. 1995. L'embryogenèse somatique chez Phoenix
dactylifera L.: quelques facteurs limitants et marqueurs biochimiques.
thèse de Doctorat d'Etat ès-Sciences. Université
Cadi Ayyad, Marakech (Morocco).
AISSAM, F. 1993. embryogenèse somatique et régénération
du palmier dattier (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Contribution à
l'étude de la régulation physiologique de la nutrition
azotée durant la phain vitro. diplôme d'Etudes Supérieures,Université
Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech (Maroc).
Other Publications on date palm tissue culture
ABASS
M.H. 2013. Microbial contaminants of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera
L.) in Iraqi tissue culture laboratories. In Emir. J. Food Agric.
2013. 25 (11): 875-882.
Abstract. The date palm is one of the most important economic species of the
palm family, grown mainly for its fruits (dates). Nowadays there is
increased demand for date palm fruits around the world. To meet this
demand, several propagation methods have been utilized, among them
micropropagation which has been used in Iraq and many other countries
for large-scale multiplication of date palm. Micropropagation faces
several constraints; one is microbial contamination which represents
a major challenge to the initiation and maintenance of date palm micropropagation
laboratories. In recent years, two major groups of contaminants have
been identified and isolated from different date palm tissue culture
laboratories in Iraq. The first group is fungi. Several fungal species
have been isolated and identified as contaminants; most predominant
are: Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata and Penicillium spp.
The second group is bacteria; predominantly of the genera Bacillus,
Staphylococcus and Proteus.
ABAHMANE
L. 2013. Recent achievements in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera
L.) micropropagation from inflorescence tissues. In: Emir. J. Food
Agric. 2013. 25 (11): 863-874.
Abstract.
The Moroccan demand for date palm plants over the next decade is estimated
to be 2.9 million. To fulfill this huge demand, the use of rapid micropropagation
techniques is an objective of great interest. Generally, date palm
micropropagation is performed from offshoot tissue. However, in the
case of some rare genotypes, this technique is inefficient because
only limited numbers of offshoots are available. To overcome this
problem, a new technique based on the use of emerged inflorescence
tissue was developed. The research activities resulted in a completely
successful process starting from plant material excision to plant
acclimatization and field planting. The technique was used for the
micropropagation of 16 date palm genotypes with good fruit quality.
To date, hundreds of well-acclimatized plants belonging to 9 genotypes
have been produced. In addition, clusters of buds of 3 selected genotypes
and Medjool cv. were produced and transferred to a private laboratory
for mass propagation. In vitro plants needed to test for bayoud disease
resistance of 6 selected genotypes were produced using this technique.
Since 2001, well-acclimatized in vitro plants were gradually transferred
to the field to study their behavior. Inflorescence-derived plants
have shown normal growth and no abnormalities. Fruit set of planted
palms started in 2005. In the present paper, micropropagation with
inflorescence tissue as well as the related major achievements are
presented.
AL-MAYAHI
A. M. W. 2014. Effect of copper sulphate and cobalt chloride on growth
of the in vitro culture tissues for date palm (Phoenix dactylifera
L.) Cv. Ashgar. In: American Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Sciences 9 (1): 6-18, 2014.
Link: http://thescipub.com/
Abstract.
This study was carried out to investigate the effects of copper sulphate
and cobalt chloride on propagation of date palm cv. Ashgar in vitro.
The rate of callus proliferation was significantly higher in the medium
supplemented with 2 µM copper sulphate and 2 µM cobalt
chloride together (p<0.05). Addition of copper sulphate and Cobalt
chloride to the medium was most effective for shoots regeneration
from callus and enhanced regeneration frequency as well as number
of shoots obtained per explant, the best result (7.12 shoot/explant)
was obtained by using copper sulphate and Cobalt chloride at 2.0 µM.
Also the results of this experiment indicates that the maximum induction
of roots can be achieved in the media containing both additives at
0.5 µM. The callus exhibited a decline in carbohydrate contents,
proteins, whereas total phenol content increased at high concentration
of Cu and Co. The greatest formation of chlorophylls a, b and total
chlorophyll was obtained in plantlets grown in the media containing
both additives at 0.5 µM. As well as Maximum survivability was
noticed for plants cultured in media that containing both copper sulphate
and Cobalt chloride at 0.5 µM.
AZAD
M. A. K., AREFIN H., HOSSAIN A. 2013. In vitro Morphogenesis of Arabian
Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). In: Plant Tissue Cult.
& Biotech. 23(2): 211-219, 2013. Link: http://www.baptcb.org/
Abstract.
After inoculation of young leaves of date palm offshoot required about
six months to complete the morphogenesis process. Fourteen weeks were
required for embryogenic callus formation under continuous dark condition
and nine weeks for shoot initiation (under 16/8 h light/dark). The
highest number of explants (80%) produced callus in modified MS containing
5 mg/l 2,4-D + 2 mg/l 2ip. Sixty per cent of explants produced callus
in the modified medium containing 5 mg/l 2,4-D + 5 mg/l NAA. While
only 50 per cent of the explants formed callus in the same medium
when supplemented with only 5 mg/l 2,4-D. The induced calli were transferred
to modified MS for shoot proliferation. A combination of two cytokines
showed better performance than single ones in shoot induction. The
highest percentage (70) of shoot developed in modified MS containing
2 mg/l BAP + 1 mg/l Kn. Forty per cent shoot induction was found in
the same medium supplemented with 2 mg/l of BAP. Thirty per cent shoot
formed in MS containing 1 mg/l of Kn. The shoots were subcultured
at three- four week intervals throughout culture duration.
EL-ASHRY
A.A., SHALTOUT A.D., EL-BAHR M.K., EL HAMID A., M.A. MATTER, BEKHEET
S.A. 2013. In vitro preservation of embryogenic cultures of two Egyptian
dry date palm cultivars at darkness and low temperature conditions.
In : Journal of Applied Sciences Research, 9(3): 1985-1992, 2013.
Link: http://www.aensiweb.com/
Abstract.
This study aimed to investigate the effect of low temperature (5°C)
and darkness conditions on preservation of embryogenic cultures of
Bartamoda and Sakkoty date palm cultivars. In vitro cultures of those
cultivars were obtained by culturing shoot tips excised from offshoots.
Embryogenic cultures were proliferated on MS medium supplemented with
10 mg/ l 2,4-D + 3 mg/l 2iP. For low temperature preservation, cultures
of the two cultivars were incubated at 5°C for twelve months.
Generally, survival percentage was decreased as storage period increased
in both two cultivars. After twelve months Sakkoty registered 88.
8 % and Bartamoda registered 87.7 % of survival with considerable
browning specially with Bartamoda cultivar. At low temperature, rate
of the new proliferated cultures of the two cultivars was decreased
as increasing of storage period. Also, the effect of preservation
in complete dark at room temperature conditions was investigated.
It was found that survival percentage significantly declined after
twelve months of preservation. Sakkoty registered high percentage
of survival compared with Bartamoda cultivar. It was found that dark
condition had negative effects on proliferation of embryogenic cultures
in both two cultivars of date palm. Genetic stability was tested using
RAPD - PCR analysis. PCR products revealed that the persevered cultures
were relatively genetically stable. Bartamoda gave high similarity
compared with sakkoty cultivar.
HAIDER M. S., KHAN I. A., NAQVI S. A., JASKANI M.J., KHAN R. W., NAFEES M.,
PASHA M. I. 2013. Fruit developmental stages effects on attributes
in date palm. In: Pak. J. Agri. Sci., Vol. 50(4), 577-583; 2013.
Link: http://pakjas.com.pk/
Abstract.
Some date palm cultivars grown in Pakistan were biochemically characterized
and the effect of fruit maturity on radical scavenging capacity (DPPH),
total phenolic contents (TPC), specific activity of antioxidant enzymes,
sugars profile and soluble protein contents was assessed. Higher range
of differences in composition of studied phytochemicals was recorded
among different cultivars. Antiradical efficiency (AE), TPC, antioxidant
enzymes and soluble protein contents were recorded higher at khalal
stage thereafter, declined at rutab then finally at tamar stage. The
amount of glucose (11.32-32.50%) and fructose (10.95-32.41%) started
accumulation from khalal stage and were in higher composition at tamar
stage due to hydrolysis and inversion of sucrose (10.82-3.1%) contents.
The results concluded that variation in biochemical attributes primarily
influenced by type of cultivars and different fruit developmental
stages. Keywords: Dates, fruit maturity, antioxidants, sugars, total
phenolic contents
Other publications on date palm
BALLARDINI M, MERCURI A, LITTARDI C, ABBAS S, COUDERC M, LUDEÑA B, PINTAUD
JC 2013. The chloroplast DNA locus psbZ-trnfM as a potential barcode
marker in Phoenix L. (Arecaceae). In: Nagy ZT, Backeljau T,
De Meyer M, Jordaens K (Eds) DNA barcoding: a practical tool for fundamental
and applied biodiversity research. ZooKeys 365: 71–82. Link
: http://www.pensoft.net/
Abstract.
The genus Phoenix (Arecaceae) comprises 14 species distributed from
Cape Verde Islands to SE Asia. It includes the economically important
species Phoenix dactylifera. The paucity of differential morphological
and anatomical useful characters, and interspecific hybridization,
make identification of Phoenix species difficult. In this context,
the development of reliable DNA markers for species and hybrid identification
would be of great utility. Previous studies identified a 12 bp polymorphic
chloroplast minisatellite in the trnG (GCC)-trnfM (CAU) spacer, and
showed its potential for species identification in Phoenix. In this
work, in order to develop an efficient DNA barcode marker for Phoenix,
a longer cpDNA region (700 bp) comprising the mentioned minisatellite,
and located between the psbZ and trnfM (CAU) genes, was sequenced.
One hundred and thirty-six individuals, representing all Phoenix species
except P. andamanensis, were analysed. The minisatellite showed 2-7
repetitions of the 12 bp motif, with 1-3 out of seven haplotypes per
species. Phoenix reclinata and P. canariensis had species-specific
haplotypes. Additional polymorphisms were found in the flanking regions
of the minisatellite, including substitutions, indels and homopolymers.
All this information allowed us to identify unambiguously eight out
of the 13 species, and overall 80% of the individuals sampled. Phoenix
rupicola and P. theophrastihad the same haplotype, and so had P. atlantica,
P. dactylifera, and P. sylvestris (the “date palm complex”
sensu Pintaud et al. 2013). For these species, additional molecular
markers will be required for their unambiguous identification. The
psbZ-trnfM (CAU) region therefore could be considered as a good basis
for the establishment of a DNA barcoding system inPhoenix, and is
potentially useful for the identification of the female parent in
Phoenix hybrids.
GROS
BALTHARD M. 2013. Hybridization in the genus Phoenix. A review.
In: Emir. J. Food Agric. 2013. 25 (11): 831-842. Link: http://ejfa.info/
Abstract.
The genus Phoenix is composed of 14 species naturally distributed
in the Old World. This genus comprises the date palm, Phoenix dactylifera
L., cultivated for its fruits, the dates, while other species are
grown for food, ornament and religious purposes. Phoenix species were,
for these reasons, spread out of their natural distribution area.
It is therefore common to find species not naturally sympatric, growing
together, in cultivation or in the wild. Phoenix species are interfertile
and crossing distinct species leads to fertile hybrid offspring (interspecific
hybridization). The introduction of a species in the wild generates
gene flows leading to the creation of new hybrids and has conservation
implications. In cultivation, such crossings may be spontaneous or
are the result of artificial pollination, as several reasons impel
doing so. Crossing gives rise to beautiful hybrids and is also useful
for the conservation of old palm groves threatened by pests. Moreover,
artificial pollination of date palms using another Phoenix species
can be of interest given the metaxenic pollen effects. In addition,
this process may have some potential benefits in date palm improvements,
by the creation of hybrid cultivars. Thus, an increasing need of hybrid
detection and characterization exists, particularly as morphology
alone is not sufficient for this task. Besides new methods such as
traditional and geometric morphometrics that may bring new clues,
the advent of genetic and molecular markers helps to detect hybrids,
especially based on the combination of nuclear and chloroplastic data.
The application of methods such as near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy
is currently under examination to estimate their potential use for
hybrid characterization.
HAMZA A. M., COLLINS A., ADO S. G., IKUENOBE C. E., ATAGA C. D., ODEWALE
J. O. 2014. Proximate Compositions Evaluation and Variability among
Cultivars of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in Nigeria. In: International
Journal of Plant & Soil Science 3(3). Link: http://www.sciencedomain.org/
Abstract.
Genetic variability among the fruits of 22 date palm cultivars was
studied using 6 nutritional characters to enable us classify the available
germplasm into distinct groups on the basis of their genetic diversity
using their nutritional characteristics from proximate composition.
The main date palm-growing areas of Nigeria were surveyed in 2011
with the objective of characterizing cultivars as to the quality and
economic value of their fruits. Descriptive statistics and some multivariate
analysis techniques were used to classify the 22 date palm cultivars.
The genotypes based on studied traits were grouped into three clusters.
Discriminant function analysis was used to confirm the accuracy of
grouping that was produced by cluster analysis. Sugar and crude protein
content were identified as important traits that could be used to
differentiate the genotypes as revealed by both principal component
and discriminant analysis. Genetic distance between Daushenga 1 and
Saberari 2 exhibited the greatest dissimilarity followed by Daushenga
1 and Hausawa. Hence the use of these parents for hybridization should
be given greater emphasis for the production of transgressive segregants
with high nutritional potential. The level of variability observed
suggested a high diversity among the cultivars. The result of the
principal component analysis indicated that the contribution of the
first three factors with Eigen value greater than one accounted for
73.03% of the total variation. The moderately high ash content shows
that date palm fruit can effectively serve as a source of inorganic
minerals and good adsorbent in the removal of metallic ions, odour,
colours and other particulate matter from aqueous medium of water
and waste water thus making date palm fruit an effective material
precursor in water and waste water treatment among other uses. The
high soluble carbohydrate content indeed gives an indication that
it compares favourably with other fast energy giving food stuffs and
thus it can be added to some food content as an additive .This work
identified the existence of inherent variability in the local germplasm
collections, and the traits that could be used to exploit the observed
variability, eliciting important relationships among the traits in
the process.
RIAHI
K., CHAABANE S., BEN THAYER B. 2013. A kinetic modeling study of phosphate
adsorption on to Phoenix dactylifera L. date palm fibers in
batch mode. In: Journal of Saudi Chemical Society. Available online
17 December 2013.
Abstract.
The removal of phosphates from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto
date palm fibers (DPF) has been studied in batch mode. The aim of
this study was to understand the mechanisms that govern phosphate
sorption and find an appropriate model for the kinetics of removal.
In order to investigate the mechanism of sorption and potential rate
controlling steps, pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order, intra-particle
diffusion and the Elovich equations have been used to test experimental
data. Kinetic analysis of the four models has been carried out for
initial phosphate concentration in the range of 30–110 mg/L.
The rate constants for the four models have been determined and the
correlation coefficients have been calculated in order to assess which
model provides the best fit predicted data with experimental results.
Seven statistical functions were used to estimate the error deviations
between experimental and theoretically predicted kinetic adsorption
values, including the average relative error deviation (ARED), Marquardt's
percent standard error deviation (MPSED), the hybrid fractional error
function (HYBRID), the sum of the squares of the errors (SSE) and
three alternative statistical functions, including the Chi-square
test, the F-test and Student's T-test. The results showed that,
both Elovich equation and pseudo second-order equation provide the
best fit to experimental data for different initial phosphate concentrations.
LIA
M., BERNIER U.R., AGRAMONTE N. M., ALQASOUMI S. I., AL-YAHYA M. A.,
AL-REHAILY A.J., YUSUFOGLU H. S., DEMIRCI F., CAN BASER K. H., KHAN
I. A , TABANCA N. 2013. Phoenix dactylifera L. spathe essential
oil. Chemical composition and repellent activity against the yellow
fever mosquito. In : Acta Tropica 128 (2013) 557–560. Link:
http://www.afpmb.org/
Abstract.
Date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecaceae), grows commonly in the
Arabian Peninsula and is tradition-ally used to treat various diseases.
The aim of the present study was to identify chemical composition
ofthe essential oil and to investigate the repellent activity. The
essential oil of P. dactylifera was obtained byhydrodistillation from
the spathe, a specialized leaf structure that surrounds the pollinating
organs of thepalm. The oil was subsequently analyzed by GC–FID
and GC–MS. The oil showed promising repellent activity against
yellow fever mosquito – Aedes aegypti. Sixteen components were
characterized, constituting99% of the oil. The main components were
3,4-dimethoxytoluene (73.5%), 2,4-dimethoxytoluene (9.5%),-caryophyllene
(5.5%), p-cresyl methyl ether (3.8%), and caryophyllene oxide (2.4%).
The minimumeffective dosage (MED) for repellency for the P. dactylifera
oil was 0.051 mg/cm 2 , which had moderatelylower potency compared
to reference standard N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, DEET (0.018 mg/cm
2 )in the “cloth patch assay”. The five major compounds
were individually assayed for repellency todetermine to what extent
each is responsible for repellency from the oil. 3,4-Dimethoxytoluene
and2,4-dimethoxytoluene showed the best repellent activity with the
same MED value of 0.063 mg/cm 2 ,respectively. The results indicate
that these two constituents which comprise a large proportion of theP.
dactylifera oil (83%) are likely responsible for the observed repellent
activity. In this aspect, the P.dactylifera spathe oil is a sustainable,
promising new source of natural repellents.
LENS UTILES
Glossaire trilingues
Français-Arabe-Anglais
Faculty of Sciences, Cadi Ayyad University
Marrakech, 40000, Morocco
Email: baaziz@uca.ac.ma
Phone: 212524434649 (post 513)
Fax: 212524434669