MOLECULAR STUDIES ON SOME DATE PALM CULTIVARS GROWN IN EGYPT

Abstract

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the most ancient economical cultivated crops that belongs to family Arecaceae. It is mainly grown in the arid regions of the Middle East and North Africa. Biodiversity conservation of date palm is crucial matter in maintaining the diverse number of date palm cultivars in Egypt. Estimation of genetic variability and right date palm cultivar identification is important in developing programs and cultivar characterization and conservation to combat genetic erosion. In the present study SSR and SCoT markers and morphological characters were used to detect the degree of genetic diversity and relationships among eleven Egyptian male and female date palm genotypes (Female cultivars are: Sewi; collected from 2 localities, Amhat, Zagloul and Hayani, while male palms include two Sewi male cultivars and four unidentified males). In addition, a SCAR marker was used to help in discrimination between male and female date palms. Also, to present a comprehensive investigation for Egyptian date palm genome variations and develop novel DNA markers (SNPs and indels) in four date palm cultivars using SOLiD sequencing. These techniques help in building a date palm cultivar identification system through specific fingerprints for each cultivar to verify the