Basrah Journal For Date Palm Research

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of foliar spraying of the organic nano-fertilizer (Optimus Plus), irrigation water salinity, and their interaction on some chemical and physiological traits of date palm seedlings cv. Al-Zamli (Phoenix dactylifera L.). A factorial experiment was conducted to study leaf content of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, proline, and total chlorophyll under different salinity levels (0, 5, 10, and 15 dS m⁻¹) with and without foliar application of the organic nano-fertilizer. The results showed that foliar application of the nano-fertilizer significantly improved leaf nutrient contents compared with the non-sprayed treatment, recording the highest values of nitrogen (2.012%), phosphorus (2.441 g kg⁻¹), potassium (7.931 g kg⁻¹), and total chlorophyll (19.776 mg 100 g⁻¹), along with a reduction in proline content (0.514 µg g⁻¹). Results also indicated that increasing irrigation water salinity significantly decreased nutrient and chlorophyll contents, where the highest salinity level (15 dS m⁻¹) recorded the lowest values of nitrogen (0.901%), phosphorus (1.466 g kg⁻¹), potassium (5.236 g kg⁻¹), and chlorophyll (10.246 mg 100 g⁻¹), while proline content increased (0.835 µg g⁻¹). Interaction results showed that nano-fertilizer application mitigated the adverse effects of salinity by maintaining higher levels of nutrients and chlorophyll under different salinity levels, whereas the interaction between no spraying and high salinity produced the lowest values. It is concluded that the organic nano-fertilizer (Optimus Plus) represents a promising option for supporting the sustainability of date palm cultivation in saline environments.

The red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier) is considered one of the most serious pests threatening date palm cultivation in many countries worldwide, due to its high ability to cause severe damage that leads to tree deterioration, reduced productivity, and may eventually result in tree death. This study aimed to review the most important methods used to control this pest, with emphasis on biological, pheromonal, and chemical control. Studies have shown that entomopathogenic nematodes, particularly Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, possess high efficiency in controlling the larval stages of the insect. Likewise, entomopathogenic fungi, especially Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Trichoderma harzianum, have demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing weevil populations and infecting different life stages. Pheromone traps have also played an important role in early detection of infestation, monitoring insect population densities, and contributing to population reduction, especially when aggregation pheromones are combined with suitable food baits. Furthermore, studies have indicated that chemical insecticides, particularly when applied via trunk injection, remain among the most effective control methods for eliminating different developmental stages of the insect. The results indicate that integrated management of the red palm weevil, combining continuous monitoring, biological control, pheromonal trapping, and chemical control, represents the most efficient and sustainable approach to limiting the spread of this pest and reducing its economic losses in date palm orchards.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the most important strategic crops in arid and semi-arid regions. However, climate change and rising temperatures have become increasing challenges to the sustainability of its production by causing physiological and biochemical disturbances that negatively affect growth and productivity. This review summarizes current knowledge on the effects of heat stress on date palm, with particular emphasis on the role of biofertilizers as a sustainable agricultural approach to enhance plant adaptation to high-temperature conditions. The review discusses the various mechanisms employed by beneficial microorganisms, including plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and endophytic fungi, in improving water and nutrient uptake, activating antioxidant defense systems, inducing heat shock protein production, and maintaining photosynthetic efficiency and cellular membrane stability. It also highlights the role of biofertilizers in improving the physical and biological properties of soil and enhancing microbial diversity, thereby contributing to the sustainability of agricultural systems. Furthermore, the review addresses key research challenges and future perspectives, including the interactions between introduced microorganisms and native microbial communities, as well as the application of modern molecular techniques to evaluate biofertilizer efficiency and their long-term environmental impacts. Available evidence indicates that integrating biofertilizers into date palm management programs represents a promising strategy for improving heat stress tolerance and enhancing the sustainability of agricultural production under accelerating climate change.

The lesser date moth, Batrachedra amydraula, is one of the most dangerous pests infesting date palm fruits, causing significant losses in yield and fruit quality. This study aimed to assess the geographic and seasonal distribution of infestation in three regions of Basra Governorate (Abi Al-Khasib, Shatt Al-Arab, Al-Qurna), and to investigate the susceptibility of five date palm cultivars (Hallawi, Sayer, Khadrawi, Breim, Barhi) to infestation. Additionally, the study compared the efficacy of five chemical pesticides (Abamectin, Alpha-cypermethrin, Actellic, Matrinex Plus, Deltamethrin) and the effect of their combination with silver nanoparticles at two different spray timings. The results showed significant variation in fruit drop percentages among the study regions, with Shatt Al-Arab recording the highest drop rate (67.27%). The second period after pollination (24 days) was found to be the most susceptible to infestation. Regarding cultivar susceptibility, Hallawi and Sayer recorded the highest drop percentages at 47.73% and 41.15%, respectively. The chemical control results demonstrated the superiority of Matrinex Plus in reducing fruit drop percentage compared to other pesticides. Furthermore, the combination of this pesticide with silver nanoparticles, particularly at the concentration (1 ml pesticide + 0.5 g nanoparticles), significantly enhanced its effectiveness, achieving zero drop percentage in some treatments. The results indicate that using pesticides integrated with silver nanoparticles may represent a promising strategy to improve control efficacy and reduce the damage caused by this pest, with a recommendation to determine early spray timing to ensure effective fruit protection.

The present study was conducted at the Department of Horticulture and Landscape, College of Agriculture, University of Basrah, on three-year-old tissue culture-derived date palm offshoots (Phoenix dactylifera L., cv. Barhee). It aimed to evaluate the effects of amino acid and salicylic acid foliar application on alleviating salinity stress during the 2025–2026 growing season. Plants were irrigated with saline water at 10 dS m−1 (100 mM), and treated with amino acid mixture (0, 100, 200 mg L−1) and salicylic acid (0, 100, 200 mg L−1). Results showed that the combined application of 200 mg L−1 amino acids and 200 mg L−1 salicylic acid significantly improved biochemical traits. This treatment produced the highest total chlorophyll content (5.318 mg g−1) and soluble protein content (5.446 mg g−1), while reducing proline to 3.766 mg g−1 and lipid peroxidation to 2.043 mg g−1, and enhancing membrane stability index to 71%. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed 43 protein bands, indicating changes in protein expression under salinity and treatments. Cluster analysis grouped treatments into two main clusters; notably, the combination of 100 mg L−1 salicylic acid and 200 mg L−1 amino acids formed a distinct group with a genetic stability index of 0.8%. Overall, salinity induced noticeable biochemical and genetic alterations, whereas amino acids and salicylic acid effectively mitigated stress effects and improved plant performance and genetic stability.

This study evaluated the nutritional quality and health safety of date palm sap from four Libyan cultivars (Amy, Bekrari, Dokar, and Tabony) and one Tunisian Bekrari sample. Chemical analyses showed significant variation among samples, with Dokar sap recording the highest total solids content (27.55 °Brix), while exhibiting the lowest total acidity (0.065%) and pH (7.00). Phytochemical screening revealed high levels of glycosides, phenols, and flavonoids in all samples. The Libyan Bekrari sap contained the highest total polyphenol content (10.81 mg GAE/g). Mineral analysis demonstrated that date sap is a rich source of essential minerals, particularly potassium, calcium, and phosphorus. Microbiological examination detected coliform bacteria (45–551 × 10² CFU/ml) and yeasts and molds (2–73 × 10² CFU/ml) in the analyzed samples, whereas Escherichia coli was absent in all cases. These findings highlight the nutritional and functional value of date sap but also indicate concerns regarding microbial contamination. The study emphasizes the need for improved hygienic practices during sap collection, handling, and packaging to enhance product safety and shelf life. Furthermore, the results provide important baseline data that may support the development of quality standards and safety regulations for date palm sap intended for human consumption in Libya.

The antihyperglycaemic potential of hot water infusion of roasted Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) seeds (HAERD) was evaluated in high-carbohydrate diet (HCD)-induced hyperglycaemic male Wistar rats. Doses of 200 and 500 mg/kg body weight were selected based on previous studies on date seed infusions and to establish a clear dose-response relationship. After 8 weeks of HCD feeding to induce hyperglycaemia, rats were treated orally with HAERD (200 and 500 mg/kg), metformin (150 mg/kg), or vehicle for 21 days.HAERD produced significant dose-dependent reductions in fasting blood glucose (p < 0.05), with the 500 mg/kg dose returning values to near normal by Week 6. The infusion also significantly improved serum insulin concentrations and HOMA-IR index in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05), approaching the effects of metformin. Furthermore, HAERD normalized the serum lipid profile by significantly lowering total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and VLDL-C (p < 0.0001). It restored antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx) and markedly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p < 0.0001). Treatment with HAERD also significantly decreased liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP) and bilirubin levels (p < 0.0001), accompanied by recovery of total protein and albumin. Histopathological examination revealed dose-dependent regenerative changes and near-normal tissue architecture in the liver, kidney, and heart at the 500 mg/kg dose, comparable to the metformin-treated group.These results demonstrate that HAERD exerts robust multi-target metabolic benefits antihyperglycaemic, hypolipidaemic, antioxidant, and multi-organ protective effects in HCD-induced hyperglycaemia. The 500 mg/kg dose showed efficacy approaching that of metformin (p < 0.05). The findings support the traditional use of roasted date palm seed infusion and its potential as a sustainable, affordable nutraceutical for managing hyperglycaemia and associated complications.

Fertigation, the application of fertilizers with water through an irrigation system, has emerged as an effective approach to enhance nutrient and water-use efficiency in date palm. This review highlights current progress in applying the fertigation technique to improve date palm growth, yield, fruit quality, and sustainability in  arid and semi-arid environments. The review covers various water-soluble fertilizers, their impact on nutrient availability in the soil around the roots, and different fertigation techniques. Beyond this, the review also highlights the roles of water conservation and environmental protection by minimizing nutrient loss and enhancing fertilizer management through fertigation. The technology-related constraints, such as water quality, emitter clogging, and management, are also reviewed. In general, the results of this study indicate that fertigation can be a potential technique for sustainable  date palm production when combined with good irrigation and nutrient management practices.

Lesser date moth Batrachedra amydraula presents an important threat to the sustainability of date palm in Iraq. This study evaluated two potential egg parasitoids Trichogramma evanescens and T. brassicae, through comparative laboratory and field assessment of their biological performance. Experiments examined thermal responses at 25, 30 and 35°C across Sayer, Hillawi and Khadhrawi date palm cultivars, measuring parasitism, emergence, embryo mortality and sex ratio. Results indicated a clear thermal optimum at 30 °C where T. brassicae achieved 80.11% parasitism and T. evanescens 79.93% on Hillawi cultivar. At 35°C, performance declined sharply to below 55% parasitism. T. evanescens showed highest emergence (64.2%) and lowest mortality (35.8%) at 30 oC, whereas T. brassicae exhibited high embryonic mortality (49.43% ) at 35°C. Field observations revealed peak activity in April on Khadhrawi cultivars, while Hillawi showed the highest biological compatibility with a female biased sex ratio of 57 to 62.5%. The study identifies 30 oC as the optimal temperature for mass rearing and field release, and recommends T. evanescens as the most effective agent for IPM programs in southern Iraq, with April as the best release window before extreme summer temperatures. Overall, The integration of laboratory and field data demonstrates that temperature strongly governs parasitoid efficiency, with 30 oC representing a critical threshold for maximizing biological potential against B. amydraula, while heat stress beyond this limit reduces effectiveness and should be considered in climate-adapted integrated pest management strategies.