Preface

Date palm tree is considered as blessed tree which history was linked to the Arabian Region since ages. Due to the sublime directions of H.H Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan the president of the UAE and his brothers the members of the Supreme Council Rulers of the Emirates growing of date palm trees attained great concern to occupy its deserved rank. The number of date palm trees surpassed twenty million trees.

The sublime directions were translated into creative work by the officials in charge for the agricultural sector presided over by H.E. Saeed Bin Mohammed Alragabani the minister of agriculture and fisheries who instructed to establish the Department of Dates Research in the Northern Region in purpose of conducting experiments and research to confront with the obstacles and problems of dates propagation which involves species, service operations and care of the crop after harvesting.

This of course will increase the awareness of the farmers and rehabilitate them to cope with the great progress in date propagation and to ensure spreading out propagation of palm tree on scientific basis.We praise Almighty Allah who granted us success in our research on date palm propagation, and we wish that it will be helpful to enrich knowledge and serve farmers and researchers as well.

Abdullah Khalfan Alshariqi

Abstract

Tissue cultured offshoots of (Abu Maan, khadrawi, Berhi, Hlali, Lulu) species were planted in Alhumrania Agricultural Research Station during December 1989 after being divided. Numbers of leaves were 3 – 5 lengthen 15- 25 cm.

• The study proved the success of planting of offshoots in all species, however they were different in length, diameter of trunk and number of fronds.
• The study recommended planting tissue cultured offshoots in the permanent field directly after being hardened and take the necessary preoccupations of protection against harsh climate to minimize the period of planting under shade or in green houses.

Preface

Great concern has been given to date palm tree in the Arab countries particularly in the Gulf countries due to its agricultural advantages since dates contain high nutrient value, as well as being used as material in food industries. Therefore, the strategies of most of ministries of agriculture in the Arab countries strive for spreading out cultivation of date palm trees and dates production. The UAE which witnesses an agricultural revolution especially in propagation of date palm trees is an example of interest and care.

Palm trees are propagated in two different ways

Firstly: Propagation by seeds, which is no longer used due to genetic causes because the embryo in the seeds carries the specifications of parents and is mainly different in genetic constitution. In addition that 50% of the produced plant is male and 50% is nearly female palm tree, however the quality of most of these kinds is low. The second method of propagation comes from planting seedlings produced from buds which grow in the axilla of the fronds during the first two years of the palm tree.

The technique of tissue culture has appeared recently in purpose of producing qualified offshoots to cover the increasing demand of these offshoots to confront with the great expand in cultivating date palm trees, as well to replace the species of low quality. The main target behind this study and research is to find out the possibility of growing the tissue cultured offshoots after being solidified in the permanent field.

Our efforts were crowned with success and we could propagate date palm trees following various methods of tissue culture techniques (see pictures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).

Materials and Methods

Tissue culture offshoots for Abuman, Barhi, Hlali, and Lulu were planted in December 1989 by 4 offshoots of each species after being hardened. Number of leaves averaged between 3 – 5 leaves lengthens by 15 – 25cm.

Offshoots were planted with their plastic pots, see picture (2) at spaces of (8 X 8 meter) then they were planted in the permanent field see picture No. (3). To protect them against harsh climate and surrounded by metal structure covered by jute see (photo No. 4). The plastic pots were cut after six months and the roots system was released to be grown and spread freely.

The following study was conducted

• Percentage of succeeded planting.
• Measurements of growth, diameter of crown, Trunk diameter, number of fronds and length of fronds in each species.

Effect of planting tissue cultured dates palm offshoots lengthens 15-25cm. directly after being hardened in the permanent field, and percentage of success:

Photo No.(1) Tissue cultured dates palm offshoots after being hardened, planted for three months and prepared for cultivation in the permanent field.	Photo No.(2) A tissue cultured date palm offshoot in plastic pot and after cutting.	Photo No.(3) A tissue cultured date palm offshoot after being planted in the permanent field.	Photo No.(4) Protecting the date offshoots in the permanent field.	Photo No.(5) Tissue cultured date offshoots of different species after planting in the experiment station.

Plantation

Table No.2 indicates the growing of the species after seven years of planting. We notice here that the number of fronds is different from one species to another and reached between 123- 142 leaves. Number of fronds was the most in Lulu species and the least in Bou Maan. Lengths of fronds averaged between 425- 338 cm. The tallest fronds were in Berhi species and the shortest fronds were in BouMaan species. Diameter of palm crown was the most in Berhi and the least in Khadrawi and Hlali species.

The tall of the trunk averaged between 195- 393cm. and the tallest of species was Lulu and the shortest was Khadrawi. The lengthwise growth averaged between 27.86- 56.14cm.per year. Lulu species was the most in growth while Khadrawi species was the least. Diameter of the trunk averaged between 191- 226cm. The widest diameter of trunks was Berhi species and Hlali was the least. The natural specifications shown in the tissue cultured offshoots congruent with the ordinary seedlings.

The number of seedlings and frond bases were different. The highest number was shown in Khadrawi and the lowest was in Lulu (7.5- 4.0) respectively. From Table (I) we notice that the percentage of success obtained by growing the tissue cultured offshoots of Bou Maan, Khadrawi, Berhi, Hlali and Lulu, after being hardened in the open field at space of 15-25cm was 100%. See Table (No. 5).The natural specifications of some tissue cultured species planted in the permanent field directly after hardening. (Measurements were collected after seven years of planting).

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