Abstract
A comprehensive review of scientific literature has uncovered no reported cases of date palm trees infected by a virus and no viral infections have been reported by farmers. In spite of the hot and humid environment they inhabit, the abundance of viral infestations in the soil, other plants and organisms surrounding the trees and the frequency of importation and transplantation of these trees into the region. Such conditions should cause the date palms to also be infected. Notably, other palm trees do not exhibit the same level of innate viral immunity that is found in date palms. The date palm tree’s innate viral immunity is a virgin area in botanical research. The biological segment in date palm tree DNA that enables survival under genotoxic radiation also deserves further investigation. This field of study may enable the breeding of other economically important plants to improve desert ecology and economy, land management, agriculture and horticulture.
Highlights
The date palm is very exacting in its climatic requirements
A greater understanding of these scientifically significant features of the date palm tree should permit the application of modern day methods to adapt and assign these traits to other economically significant crops, enabling increased agricultural productivity in desert ecosystems
According to Mason [20], the growth of a date palm is inhibited by light rays at the violet (380 nm) and yellow (510 nm) end of the spectrum, but enhanced by rays at the other end of the spectrum i.e. red light (620 - 700 nm). These latter rays are most active in promoting photosynthesis. This suggests that UV radiation UV-A (320 nm to 400 nm) and UV-B (290 nm to 320 nm) are of greatest concern to date palm trees since the genotoxic potential of UV is linked to its ability to provoke direct DNA damage [19]
Summary
The successful cultivation of date palms requires desert climates which offer unique conditions and certain fundamental requirements for crop survival and growth. Numerous plants and hybrids have been carelessly transplanted between these regions over the centuries. These relocations were often accompanied by unanticipated invading species and pathogens which have made horticulture even more challenging in desert ecosystems. This article will shed light on the date palm’s perplexing tolerance to viral infections and for the high desert radiation levels. This could represent a platform for further investigation on this important desert plant that has survived for thousands of years in harsh desert conditions. A greater understanding of these scientifically significant features of the date palm tree should permit the application of modern day methods to adapt and assign these traits to other economically significant crops, enabling increased agricultural productivity in desert ecosystems
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
