Basrah Journal For Date Palm Research

This study was conducted of tissue culture laboratory–College of
Agriculture–Basra University. Period from 20-9-2012 until 20-12013. An
primary calli which was enhanced from shoot tips of date palm cv. Nersy
aim to study the effect of paclobutrazol, Casein hydrolysate and the period
on development of embryogeneic callus to form somatic embryos.
100 mg of the primary callus was cultured in media containing Auxin
NAA 10 mg.l-1 and Cytokinine 2ip 2 mg.l-1 with 2 mg.l-1 Activated
charcoal in tow media ,The first which added different concentration of
paclobutrazol (0.3, 0.5, o.7, 0.9, 1.0) mg.l-1 and the second media were
added different concentration of casein hydrolysate (200, 400, 600, 800,
1000) mg.l-1 added to the treatment control . Reculturing of Embryonic
callus was continued on the same media for four months in light.
Results revealed that Embryonic callus cultured on media containing
1.0 mg.l-1 paclobutrazol was more positive effect which gave the highest
fresh and dry weight which were recorded (1.5671, 0.1198) gm
respectively, these were significantly differed from other treatments of
paclobutrazol, casein hydrolysate and control .
Results Also showed that 1000 mg.l-1 of casein hydrolysate (the
second concentration) was too significantly differed from other treatment
and gave the highest fresh and dry weights (1.2803 , 0.0959) gm ,in other
side the control treatment had the lowest fresh and dry weight of cultured
embryonic callus. (0.2578 , 0.0198) gm. The Results also revealed
significant increased in fresh and dry weight of embryonic callus with
increased recultured in the light for four months.
The Results also showed that embryonic callus was development to
somatic embryos in different sizes in all media containing paclobutrazol
and casein hydrolysate , more clearly in media containing paclobutrazol
when compared with other treatments

Current search was conducted in aportfolio Basra groves / Shatt al-Arab
to spend five caltivars male date palm Phoenix dactylifera L. (Ghannami
Akhdar , Ghannami Ahmar , khikri Wardey , khikri Asameesmi and Al-
khikri ) for the purpose of extraction and assessment materials Like (IAA –like
substances , GA –like substances Cytokinin –like substances and Abscisic acid
substances) . The results indicate ther are significant differences among the
caltivars Ghannami Akhdar of the vaccine five levels off (IAA –like substances
, GA –like substances ,Cytokinin –like substances , Khikri Asameesmi is the
lowest level of materials (IAA –like substances , GA –like substances
,Cytokinin –like substances ) , while materials Abscisic acid substances did not
show varieties of male five significant differences among them .

The study was conducted in one of the privet orchards at Qurrma Ali
region, north of Basrah- IRAQ, during the growth season 2013. To 2014 ةنسلا 2 -1:ددعلا 13:دمجملا رمتلا ةمخن ثاحبلأ ةرصبلا ةمجم
33
investigation the effect of phosphorus and proline spray (0 , 125
,250)mg/L by two time (at march and the second was after 45 frome the
first treatment) on some physical and chemical characteristics and
productivity of date palm Shukar cultivar. The result showed there were
a significant effect of spraying treatment of phosphors and prolin at
250mg/L on the physical characteristics (fruit length, weight, diameters
and volume) of fruit and also the same treatment gave a significant
effect in chemical characteristics (percentage of total soluble solid, total
sugar and sucrose), whereas there was no significant effect of this
treatment on the reducing sugar, but there was a significant effect of this
treatment on date palm product which reach the highest productivity
about 149.22kg. The same treatment recoded increase in the
phosphorus and proline concentration in leaves.

The present study was carried out during the period from Feb. 2012 up to
Feb. 2014 with the objecitive of improving salt tolerace of date palm cv. Barhee
using tissue culture and exogenous application of sodium chloride and water
extract of Caper leaves . The embryogenic callus produced from shoot tips
were cultured on MS medium and subjected to various concentrations of NaCl at
0 , 200 , 300 or 400 mM alone or combination with the water extract of Caper
leaves at 0 , 25 and 50 g . L- 1 . The effect of the above treatments and their
combination were studied in relation to their effects on the activities of
peroxidase and catalase .
The results may be summarized as follows:
Treatment with NaCl at 300 mM caused a significant decreased in the activity
of peroxidase , but Treatments with water extract of Caper leaves at 25 g / L and
the interactions among NaCl at 300 mM + water extract of Caper at 25 g / L
caused a sgnificant increase in the activity of peroxidase , wheras treatments
with NaCl at 400 mM , water extract of Caper leaves at 50 g . L- 1 and the
interactions among NaCl at 400 mM + water extract of Caper leaves at 25 g . L- 1
caused a significant increase in activity of catalase .

The present experiment was carried out during the growing season of
2013 in a private orchard in Shatt- Al-Arab in Basra to study the effect of
spraying with nutritive solution Fetrilon Combi 2 on certain physical and
characteristics of the fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L. cv.
Hillawi) and the productivity of the trees. The experiment included 10
treatment which were the interaction of tow spraying dates was tow days
before pollination, and the second date of spraying was four weakes after
pollination. The nutritive solution was used at 5 concentration ( 0, 0.025,
0.050 , 0.075 and 0.1)%. The nutritive was sprayed on the whole tree. Once
on each occasion. The results may be summarized as follows:-
The nutritive solution at (0.1 %) on both spraying dates and both growth
(Khalal + Rutab) caused significant increase:- fruit physical characteristics
( fruit weight, fruit volume and fruit length and diameter 8.033g , 7.117g ,
8.080 cm3 , 8.745 cm3, 3.750 cm , 3.112 cm and 1.7833cm , 1.7067 cm
respectively. The nutritive solution at 0.1 % also caused a significant
increase in ripening percentage and mean bunch weight compared with
control treatment 92.770% , 6.9165 kg respectively. The results also
showed that the nutritive solution at 0.075% did not significantly from the
treatment 0.1% although it caused significant increase in fruit weight and
ripening Percentage as compared with control. Spraying that nutritive
solution at 4 week from pollination caused significant increase in fruit
weight, volume, and diameter as compared with first spraying date at both
stage of fruit growth Khalal and Rutab 7.732g , 6.681g , 8.152 cm3, 7.607
cm
3 , 3.506 cm , 2.859 cm and 1.7553 cm ,1.6798 cm respectively. The
second date of spraying the nutritive solution also caused a significant
increase in ripening percentage and mean bunch weight 90.44% , 6.2248
kg respectively. As for interactions, their effects were significant on studied
parameters, where the treatment (0.1% nutritive solution + second spraying
date) caused a significant increase in fruit physical characteristics fruit
weight ,volume , and length and diameter, as well as ripening percentage ,
mean bunch weight and total yield. As for the treatment (0.1% nutritive
solution + first spraying date) and (0.075% + second spraying date) had a
significant increase in ripening percentage and total yield compared with
control. However both treatments did not differ significantly from the 2
treatment; 0,100% + second spraying date. All interactive treatments had
significant effect in increasing fruit weight.

This study was carried out during the growing season of 2013 in a
private date palm orchard situated in Shtt-AL-Arab district , Basrah
Governorate , to investigate effects of pollen parent of 24 male cultivars
grown in Middle and South of Iraq on fruit ripening parameters of
Hillawi and Sayer date palm cultivars .
Results showed also that Hasani male cultivar recorded significant
increases in fruit length and diameter and volume at Khalal and Rutab
stages , fruit and pulp weight at Khalal stage , total soluble solids , total
and reducing sugars , and dry weight percentage of fruit , fruit setting
and ripening percentage and bunch weight at Rutab stage . Sultani male
cultivare recorded significant increases in fruit and pulp weight at Rutab
stage , whereas Shleg male cultivar had significant increases in seed,
length, diameter and volume at Khalal and Rutab stages . Abu- Shooch
and Amlah and Shrefy male cultivars increased seed weight significantly
at Khalal and Rutab stages , whereas Ghanami-Omara mal cultivar had
significant increase in sucrose concentration of fruit at Rutab stage .
Results showed that Hillawi cultivar recorded significant increases in
fruit diameter and volume and weight and pulp , the length of the seed
diameter and weight and size in the two phases of Khalal and Rutab, and
the length of the fruit and the percentage of total soluble solids and
reducing sugars and the percentage of dry matter in the fruit and the
proportion of fruit ripening and bunch weight per Rutab stage, in while
the moral superiority of the Sayer in the length of the fruit at the stage of
Khalal, and the concentration of sucrose, tannins and water content in the
fruit in the Rutab stage.. The combination of Sayer cultivar and Hasani
recorded significant increases in fruit length and volume at Khalal and
Rutab stages , whereas combination of Hillawi cultivar and Hasani
caused increased fruit diameter significantly at Khalal and Rutab stages ,
total soluble solid and dry weight percentage of fruit . Combination of
Hillawi and Zibealy increased fruit and pulp weight significantly at
Rutab stage . Results of principal component analysis showed that fruit
physical characters lied in two components recording a contribution in
total variance of 67.898% and 30.042% respectively at Khalal stage , and
69.361% and 28.760% respectively at Rutab stage . Seed volume
recorded the highest contribution value of 0.992 at Khalal stage ,
whereas fruit weight recorded the highest contribution value of 0.993 at
Rutab stage . Fruit chemical characters and yield occupied two
component recording a contribution in total variance of 76.398% and
12.556% respectively at Rutab stage . Sucrose concentration of fruit had
the highest contribution value of o.980 .

Iraq played a key role in providing offshoots for the establishment of the small but
successful USA date industry. David Fairchild, Paul Popenoe and Roy Nixon traveled to
Iraq to select and supervise export offshoot consignments. The USA derived considerable
benefit from the receipt of the varieties from Iraq and the other countries. In return, date-
growing countries have benefitted from the scientific research contributions on the palm by
American scientists.

The pathological effects of Meloidogyne javanica and M.incognita on seedlings
obtained by germinating seeds of Khistawi,Zahdi and Braim date palm cultivars and the
interaction of M.javanica , Fusarium sp., and Thielaviopsis paradoxa on two date palm
cultivars was studied. M. incognita caused more reduction in seedlings immergence of
cv.Khastawi and cv.Braim than M.javanica. M.incognita produced significantly more
galls on the root of both cultivars compared with those caused by M.javanica. The
different nematode inoculum densities used in this study caused no significant differences
in seedlings shoot height or root length compared with that in the control. Combined
treatments of Fusarium sp.,T. paradoxa and M.javanica caused increased percentages of
root necrosis in cv. Zahdi and cv. Braim compared with necrosis caused by inoculation
with any one of these pathogens alone. M.javanica-T.paradoxa combined inoculation
cause the greatest root necrosis on both cultivars when seedlings were inoculated with the
nematodes 3 weeks prior to fungal inoculation. Nematode infection caused marked
disorganization of root anatomy. Characteristic nematode induced feeding giant cells
were observed in only the stealer tissues and in close association with xylem vessels.
Several normal size females each associated with 3-6 giant, multinucleate cells and large
egg masses were often observed in relatively small areas of root tissue.

Date palm diseases are rising as an important concern during the last decades. The fungal
pathogens of date palm are considered as the most serious problem causing significant
reductions of growth, development, and production of date palm. The present study was
aimed at the characterization of two Nigrospora species, isolated from different cultivars of
date palm, based on morphological, molecular and pathological characteristics. In the current
study, the identity of both Nigrospora species have been revealed to be as N. oryzae and N.
sphaerica on the basis of their morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of the
Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region. Results showed that both pathogens were found to
be true pathogens on different date palm cultivars. Compared to N. Sphaerica, N. oryzae was
more aggressive on the following cultivars: Al-Sayer, Hillawi, Zahdi, Leloy and Kantar. After
30 days post-inoculation, the overall average lesion diameter was 1.85 cm in response to the
artificial infection with N. oryzae, whereas infection with N. sphaerica produced 1.42 cm
lesions. Al-Sayer cv. was the most susceptible, among the tested cultivars to both Nigrospora
species; the lesion diameter was 2.50 cm, in contrast with cv. Leloy, 1.10 cm, which showed
the lowest level of susceptibility. The extracellular enzymatic activity of both pathogens
revealed that N. oryzae surpassed N. sphaerica in the production of cellulase and protease
enzymes; whereas, lipase enzyme activity was absent in both fungi. The high enzymatic
activity and virulence of N. oryzae on different date palm cultivars were approved in contrast
with the species of N. sphaerica.