Basrah Journal For Date Palm Research

The study was conducted in the molecular genetics laboratories at the College of
Agriculture, University of Basrah. In order to find the similarities and genetic distance as
well as fingerprint of DNA profile by RAPD-PCR for six date palm cultivars (Dalka
Mousa, Dakla Hussein, Aouina Ayoub, Bubki, Awaid and Burhi Ahmar) using six RAPD
random primers. Results showed four grouping including the closest genetic distance
between the Dokla Hussein and Dokla Moses followed by other cultivars. Advanced
statistical analyses were used to find the principal components analysis PCA and neighbor
joining clustering

The present study was carried out during the growth season of 2018 on date palm trees
phoenix dactylifera L. Al-Shwethy cv. In a private orchard at Al-Rifai district in the north
of Thi-Qar city. To investigate the effect of different pollen grain (green ghannami, khikri
and elected seed strain), as well as, chitosan treatment (0%, 1% and 2%) on some
physiological and enzymatic characteristics. The results can be summarized as follows:
1. The different source of pollen grain and chitosan treatments had a significant effect on
physiological and enzymatic properties of fruit at the Rutab stage
2. The seed strain and green ghannami treatments showed high levels of the set and
maturity percentage of fruits, also the activity of invertase and cellulase enzymes, and the
lowest percentage of fruits dropping compared to control
3. The treatment of chitosan at a concentration of (2%) had a positive significant effect on
the set and maturity percentage of fruits, while the lowest percentage of fruits dropping
was examined in above treatment compare to the control treatment, additionally the
treatment of chitosan at same concentration showed highest increase activity of the
invertase and cellulase enzymes in the khalal stage.
4. Recombination among treatments had examined, recombination of seed or ghannami
pollen grain with 2% chitosan had a significant effect on the obvious properties, which led
to increased fruits set and maturity percentages and enzymes activity, while fruits
dropping percentage was decreased.

This study has been conducted at laboratory of plant tissue culture, college of Agriculture,
University of Basrah, to examine the effect of amino acid (Glycine) at 0, 25, 50, and 100
mg.L-1 concentrations on some physical and chemical characteristics, and protein pattern
of date palm plantlets cv. Bream by in vitro culture. Results showed that, Glycine
treatment at 100 mg/L supplement into MS medium showed the highest fresh and dry
weight of plantlets as 0.523 and 0.257 gm. respectively, compared to other treatments.
Also leaves chlorophyll and carbohydrates found to be increased as consequence to
Glycine supplementing at 100 mg/L. and reached to 6.81 and 66 mg/L. respectively. Also
results showed Glycine treatments at 50 and 100 mg/L led to disappear one protein band
compared to control plantlets

The study was conducted on the fruit of the Dom Dates, to examine their chemical
composition. Results showed that, the percentage of moisture, protein content, fat and ash
based on dry weight were (9.71, 6.135, 10.75 and 17.02) respectively, and the percentage
of some of mineral elements (Ba, Fe, Co, K and Na) were (0.34, 0.0661, 0.035 and 0.048)
mg/L respectively. Qualitative analysis of the alcoholic and water extracts of the fruit
showed that, the presence of active groups of peptides. The amount of total sugars and
tannins values were obtained as (0.0125 and 2.652%) respectively. The pectin was then
extracted from the fruit using ammonium oxalate 1% at 90°C for 90 minutes and 5.396 %
The physical properties of viscosity and node time were studied and the results were as
follows (0.679, 36 minutes). The chemical properties for the ash and humidity were (6.86
and 3.92). The equivalent weight, esterification degree and methoxyl content were follows
(250 g/eq , 17.4 and 1.860%) respectively.

The study has been conducted in a private orchard of Abu Al-Khasib district in Basrah
governorate -Iraq. To investigate the effect of some seaweed extracts and nutritional
solutions in the physical properties of date palm trees. Trees of two date palm cultivars,
Bream and Hillawi, were sprayed with two seaweed extracts, Phlygreen Mira (3.5) ml / L
and Alga AL-Zuhoor (3) ml / L , as well as bio nutrition Callmax with a concentration of
(4.5) ml / L2
The trees under the study were divided into two groups. The first group was sprayed with
the studied solutions on the leaves and the spraying continued on the fruits of the same
trees to the end of the chimri stage, while the second group was sprayed only on the fruits
until the end of the chimri stage2 The results of this study showed that:
The spray by the seaweed extract phylgreen Mira improved physical properties of date
palm fruits except seed weight for both cultivars, which fruit weight was increased from
5.12 g in control to 6.85 gm for Bream cultivar and from 5.43 g in control to 6.33 g for
Hillawi cultivar. The highest value of pulp weight and fruit volume was found in Bream
cultivar fruit which was 5.73 g and 6.33 cm3 respectively. Also, sprayed with seaweed
extract Phylgreen Mira on leaves and fruits led to increase fruit lenght and diameter, which
were 2.97 and 2.13 cm for Bream cultivar and 3.44 and 2.11 for Hillawi cultivar
respectively.

The study was conducted in a privet orchard at Almdina region north of Basrah – Iraq,
during the growth season 2016 – 2017. To investigation the effect of potassium nitrate
spray (0, 3 and 6) g. L-1 and chelated iron (0, 30 and 60) mg. L-1, two times, the first at
March and the second after four week from pollution (after fruit setting) on some
physiological and chemical characteristics of date palm Nersy cultivar. The result showed
there were a significant effect of spraying treatment of potassium nitrite at 6 g. L-1 and
chelated iron at 60 mg. L-1 on the chemical characteristics. This treatment led to increase
percentage of carbohydrate from 10.17% in control to 14.15%, Nitrogen from 1.37% to
2.23% and Potassium from 2.83% to 3.35%. Also this treatment was increased fruit
content from Auxins and Gibberellins like-substances with significant different compared
to other treatments, which (322.8 and 612.4 µg.kg-1) respectively. While this treatment led
to decrease Sodium from 0.533% in control to 0.255% and Abscisic like-substances from
414.3 in control to 333.6 µg.kg-1

Present study has been conducted during the growing season of 2016 at Al-Bida Date
palm Station The study evaluate the effect of the irrigation quantity of water (0, 70 and
140) Liter-1/date palm tree-1/ week-1 with spraying the tree with bio-growth promoter
'Delzi' (2 and 4 ml/L-1) on some physical, chemical, and physiological characteristic of
fruits and leaves of two date palm cultivars Shwethee and Khadrawi. Studies also carry out
the effect of various treatments on total productivity of two cultivars under investigation.
The cultivar Shwethee significantly superior in fruit weight fruit size, , bunch weight and
The cultivar Shwethee recorded significant decreased in rate of total soluble solid
comprise, comparative with cultivar Khardawi The irrigation treatment (140 L/tree-1/week-
1 ) significantly superior on the two control's treatments (distilled water). Whereas the
heights fruit physical (fruit weight, fruit size, the percentage of soluble solid comprise
comparative with control and 70L tree/week treatments. The findings revealed that the
spraying with Bio- growth promoter (4ml/L-1) significantly superior on other treatments.
This treatment gave rise the heights fruit physical characteristics that included (fruit weight
and fruit size, the percentage of soluble solid comprise bunch weight comparative with
other treatments (control and 2 ml/L-1). The results shows that there is an prominent impact
between the interactions of Shwethee cultivar and the irrigation treatment (140 L/tree-1/
week-1), whereas it gave rise the highest significantly superior in fruit weight and flesh,
fruit size, bunch Whereas the results also revealed that the interactions of Khadhraawi
cultivar and the irrigation treatment (140 L/tree-1/ week-1) gave rise the significantly
increased in percentage of total The results shows that there is an prominent impact
between the interactions of Shwethee cultivar and spraying with bio-growth promoter
treatment (4ml/L-1), whereas it gave rise the highest significantly superior in fruit weight
and flesh, fruit size of bunch weight Whereas the results also revealed that the interactions
of Khadhraawi cultivar and the spraying treatment (4mL/L-1) gave rise the significantly
increased in total soluble comprise The dual interaction between of irrigation treatment and
spraying with bio-growth promoter (140 L/tree-1/week-1+4 ml/L-1 bio-growth promoter)
shows significantly increased in physical characteristic of fruits (weight of fruit, , fruit size
the percentage of soluble solid comprise and bunch weight compare with other treatments
The triple interaction treatments between Shwethee cultivar, irrigation treatment (140
L/tree-1/week-1) and bio-growth promoter (4 ml/L-1) significantly weight of fruit, weight of
fruit , fruit size percentage of soluble solid comprise bunch weight Whereas the triple
interaction treatments between Khadhaawi cultivar, irrigation treatment (140 L/tree-1/week-
1 ) and bio-growth promoter (4 ml/L) gave rise the significantly increased total soluble

The current study was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of the college of
Agriculture / University of Basra during the 2017-2018 seasons. The seeds were randomly
collected from the mature fruits of two female cultivars (Hillawi and Sayer) which
previously pollinated with pollen grains of four male cultivars (Ghanami Akhther, Khukri
Smismi, Dery and Abulshok). The study included the xenia effect of male cultivars and
treatment of seeds with some bioactive substances, including humic acid at concentrations
(0, 300, 500 mg. L -1) and gibberellin (0, 200, 300 mg.L-1) by seeds soaking for one day
and then kept in plastic containers content paper tissues moistened with distilled water.
The results showed that, the significant superiority of the Hillawi cv. for all examined traits
(98%, 17 day, 25 mm) as germination percentage, germination period and cotyledon sheath
respectively, and of Dery (99%, 15 days and 23 mm) with significant different compared to
other male cultivars. Also treatment with gibberellin at 300 mg.L-1 showed significant
superiority compared to other concentrations was (96%, 5 day and 33 mm) for above traits
respectively. The interaction showed that, the treatment of Hillawi seeds derived from
pollination with male cv. Dery and gibberellin at 300 mg.L-1 led to increase following
parameters; seed germination (99%), germination period (4 day) and cotyledon sheath (35
mm).

The present study has been performed at Date palm orchards located in the Shatt Al-Arab
reign in middle of BasraH province during the growth season 2014-2015.date palm trees of
(Hilawi and Sayer ) have been selected and sprayed with different plant growth regulators
which were (50 and 100)mg/l of (auxin IAA, cytokinine BA and gibberellin GA3) at two
times of application in 1/2/2014 and the second in 1/4/2014.plant hormones estimated by
liquid chromatography method, as well as antioxidant enzymes status ,the percent of fruit
set, natural fruit drop ,average bunch weigh and productivity of tree.
Results analysis showed that plant hormones (IAA, Zeatin and GA3) level was low for
each examined cultivars compared with high level of Abscisic acid in control treatment
while after treatment with plant growth regulator ,all of examined plant hormones
increased significantly with an exception of Abscisic acid which decreased at application
level of 100 mg/l in both application times .results also showed a significant increase in
examined followed antioxidant enzymes activities of Ascorbate peroxidase (APX),
Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and Peroxidase (POD) during the different
growth stage of date palm fruit in control treatment , hence ,application treatment of 100
mg/l to decrease these enzymes activities. Additionally spraying treatment of date palm
trees led to a significant increase of fruits set for both cultivars which were 87% and 91%
for Hillawi and Sayer cultivars respectively at a concentration of 100 mg/l in both
application times, also led to decrease the fruits drop to the lowest levels of 11% and 8%
respectively. Date palm production was improved significantly as a consequence of plant
growth regulator application times, the bunch weigh reached 6.2 kg in Hilawi cultivar and
5.1 kg in Sayer cultivar as well as the yield averages were 37.2 kg in Hilawi and 30.6 kg in
Sayer.

A laboratory experiment has been performed to investigate possible beneficial role of
selenium (Se) in alleviation of cadmium (Cd) toxicity. Date palm Phoenix dactylifera L.
offshoots at three years old were subjected to individually Cd at two concentrations (3 and
9 mg.kg-1) or simultaneously with Se at 1 and 15 mg.kg-1. Results show that, Cd treatments
alone led to increased accumulation of malondiladehyde (MDA), H2O2, proline and
peroxidase (POD) activity, per contra, reduction chlorophyll content, chlorophyll stability
index (CSI) and membrane stability index (MSI), particularly at high concentration. Cd
phytotocixity was alleviated when added at same time with Se at 15 mg.kg-1, no significant
effect was recorded of Se at 1 mg.kg1 to negative effects of Cd even at low concentration.
MDA increased 62.72 and 53.05%, H2O2, 56.99 and 43.57%, proline 71.35 and 57.16%,
POD activity 45.59 and 36.93% while the reduction of chlorophyll a was 31.66 and
11.90%, chlorophyll b 12.78 and 7.76%, total chlorophyll 23.32 and 10.66%, CSI 23.42
and 10.93% and MSI 31.87 and 25.79% for alone Cd at 9 mg.kg-1 or with Se at 15 mg.kg-1
treatments respectively, compared to control plants.
The results of this study reported the addition of Se at 15 mg.kg-1 led to alleviated Cd
toxicity in date palm plants.

Genotoxicity of Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) heavy metals were investigated in date palm
(Phoenix dactylifera L.) whole plant in laboratory under controlled conditions. The
genotoxic effects were evaluated using protein profile and ISSR molecular markers. Two
concentrations of cadmium and lead were selected as 3 and 9 mg/kg for Cd; 100 and 276
mg/ kg for Pb. The results clearly showed that the Cd at two examined concentrations and
Pb at low concentration (100 mg/kg) did not induce any changes in genetic materials in
terms of protein patterns and ISSR markers when compared with untreated date palm
plants (control plants). The high concentration of Pb (276 mg/kg) led to appearance of a
new protein fragment (18 KDa), as well as, a disappearance of the fragment of 33 KDa
which observed in all treatments. ISSR analysis and Dendrogram revealed the separation
of Pb at high concentration in one cluster with the highest genetic distance (0.2 according
to Nie and Li's index) than control treatment. In addition, results indicated that genomic
template stability (GTS) was significantly affected by Pb at high concentration and reduced
to 70% which reflects the genotoxicity of Pb at 276 mg/kg. Our results highlight for the
first time the genotoxic effects of Pb at high concentration on date palm genome.