Molecular Markers for Genetic Diversity and Bayoud Disease Resistance in Date Palm

Abstract

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L) is a monocotyledoneus woody perennial and dioecious plant with a long generation life time. Traditional and ­modern genetic improvement in date palm need long time and considerable funds. The molecular markers can assist the selection and give better and efficient research strategies. Several researches cited in this overview paper showed the use molecular markers as tools to evaluate genetic diversity and genotyping of date palm cultivars. Based on statistical analysis, some informative molecular markers which are associated to some phenological characters in date palm. Previous study of the date-palm mitochondrial DNA had evidenced two plasmid-like DNAs that seem to be linked to resistance to Bayoud disease but these markers cannot distinguish both studied cultivars. The research using several hundred RAPD and ISSR primers allowed identifying several markers candidates which can distinguish partially or totally between resistant and susceptible cultivars of date palm. The difficulty and relatively weak efficiency were probably due to the nature of genetic status of resistance. These preliminary researches open new doors to explore in the use of molecular technologies in the development of programme breeding of date palm in order to select rapidly new varieties desired by farmers and more demanded by different markets. They also may give area in research and construction programme of date palm genetic map.