| Autor: |
Othmani A; Laboratory for In Vitro Tissue Culture, Regional Centre for Research in Oasis Agriculture, Tozeur Km1, Degueche 2260, Tunisia.; LR21AGR03-Production and Protection for Sustainable Horticulture (2-PHD), Regional Research Centre on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture Chott Mariem, University of Sousse, Sousse 4042, Tunisia., Hamza H; Arid and Oasis Cropping Laboratory, Institute of Arid Lands, Medenine 4119, Tunisia., Kadri K; Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Laboratory, Regional Centre for Research in Oasis Agriculture, BO 62, Degueche 2260, Tunisia.; Laboratory of Biotechnology Applied to Agriculture, National Institute for Agronomic Research of Tunis, University of Carthage Tunis, Ariana 2049, Tunisia., Sellemi A; Laboratory for In Vitro Tissue Culture, Regional Centre for Research in Oasis Agriculture, Tozeur Km1, Degueche 2260, Tunisia., Leus L; Plant Sciences Unit, Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO), Caritasstraat 39, 9090 Melle, Belgium., Werbrouck SPO; Department of Plant & Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. |
| Abstrakt: |
Date palms are a vital part of oasis ecosystems and are an important source of income in arid and semi-arid areas. Crossbreeding is limited due to the long juvenile stage of date palms and their dioecious nature. The aim of this study was to create triploid date palms to obtain larger and seedless fruits and to increase resilience to abiotic stresses. A tetraploid date palm mutant was crossed with a diploid male palm, yielding hundreds of seeds suspected of containing triploid embryos. Six years after planting, four palms with confirmed triploidy reached maturity. They are phenotypically distinct from diploids, with a thicker rachis, thinner spines, wider and longer midleaf spines, and a longer apical spine. They were classified as sterile bisexual, sterile male and fertile female. One of the latter produced very tasty dates with a very small seed, which is promising for the marketability and profitability of date palm fruits. This first report on triploid date palms provides a way in which to make a significant leap forward in date palm breeding. Given the vigor and fruit quality of female triploid date palms, compared to their diploid counterparts, they will be the target of breeding programs and may spearhead new oases. |
