Abstract
Phoenix dactylifera L. is widely distributed and performs an important socioeconomic role in the south of Tunisia.The objective of this work was to evaluate different methods of estimating the diversity and genetic structure of Tunisiandate palm subpopulations. Nine morphological traits and five SSR loci were used to study morphological and genetic diversity. Correlations between phenotypic and genetic distances were assessed. Analyses of variance of the morphological data reveal significant differences among subpopulations for all traits measured. The Mantel test shows that morphological variation is correlated with fruit maturity period (r = 0.161; p = 0.020). Analysis of molecular variance reveals significant genetic variation among fruit-consistency subpopulations (p < 0.05) and the Mantel test emphasises a correlation between genetic distance and fruit consistency (r = 0.110; p = 0.029). This information will be useful for germplasm collection, for conservation and for various date palm culture programmes in the Tunisian continental oases.
Highlights
The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L., 2n = 36) is an ancient perennial plant that has been domesticated since 3000 BC in Mesopotamia (Nixon, 1959) and extensively cultivated in the Middle East and in North Africa
In Tunisian oases, the high genetic diversity can be resolved in many ways such as by using morphological and molecular tools
Morphological traits and sequences repeat (SSR) markers were used to characterise the 26 Tunisian date palm cultivars collected from continental oases
Summary
The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L., 2n = 36) is an ancient perennial plant that has been domesticated since 3000 BC in Mesopotamia (Nixon, 1959) and extensively cultivated in the Middle East and in North Africa. Being dioecious (separate male and female plants) the date palm has high genetic diversity (Munier, 1981). Identification of date palm cultivars is usually not possible until fruiting (Munier, 1973). In Tunisian oases, the high genetic diversity can be resolved in many ways such as by using morphological and molecular tools. Hamza et al (2009) selected six stable vegetative morphological traits, without significant environment plasticity and under strong genetic control. These traits are very important adaptively and are decisive in cultivar selection and adaptation
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