Selection and Molecular Identification of Semi Dry Date Palm Seedlings Using RAPD Markers

Abstract

This investigation was carried out during two successive seasons (2014 – 2015) at Fayoum governorate. The present investigation was divided into two parts. The first part aimed to select the high fruit quality of semi-dry maghal trees of date palm in Fayoum governorate. Panel taste evaluation, vegetative and morphological characters of trees, flowering, fruit set, fruit physical and chemical characteristics as well as mineral nutrients of fruitswere studied in six semi-dry maghal date palms compared to Seewy cultivar as control. The numerical selection of selected palms showed that date palm No. 6 recorded 96.38 units and gave the first rank, while tree No. 2 gave the sixth rank and gave 78.71 units and finally Seewy cultivar 70.43 units. Six semi-dry date palms were considered as an initial for a semi-dry date palm cultivars under Fayoum governorate. On the other hand, the second part aimed to characterize molecular genetic markers among the six semi-dry date palms and Seewy cultivar. Data of RAPD recorded a sum of 52 bands, where 29 bands among them were polymorphic bands and 23 bands were monomorphic in all trees under study. On the other hand, a strongest relationship was scored between tree No. 1 and tree No. 4 as well as between tree No. 6 and Seewy cultivar (similarity reached 100%).