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This investigation systematically evaluated the effect of low (10 mg/L) and high (50 mg/L) concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), combined with 3 mg/L 2iP, on callus induction from shoot tip explants of Barhi date palm cv. The induced calli were used to establish an indirect somatic embryogenesis (ISE) system on MS medium supplemented with different plant growth regulator (PGR) formulations. Genetic stability was assessed using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Callus induced with low 2,4-D (C1) concentration exhibited significantly ( p  < 0.05) superior morphogenic competence, yielding a higher fresh weight (FW) of callus at both the induction (0.290 g/jar) and regeneration (0.475 g/jar) stages, more somatic embryos (100% frequency, 8/explant), and enhanced regeneration capacity compared to callus induced by high 2,4-D (C2). Regenerants from C1 displayed superior bud germination (6.2/explant), shoot proliferation (7/explant) and elongation (6.7 cm), as well as root induction (5.6/shoot) and elongation (6.3 cm). Plantlets were successfully acclimatized, achieving an 88.5% survival rate. ISSR analysis confirmed 97.5% of genetic fidelity among all regenerants. These results indicate that a lower 2,4-D concentration (10 mg/L) enhances callus vigor and subsequent organogenesis, facilitating a highly efficient and genetically stable ISE protocol for date palm micropropagation.

Background Date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera ) is an important medicinal plant rich in a wide range of phenolic compounds variety of high antioxidant values. To enhance the production of phenolic compounds in cell suspension cultures, this study examines the impact of activated charcoal (AC) and subculture rates on biomass accumulation and phenolic content. Results Indicate that culture medium with or without activated charcoal (AC) and subculture rates have a significant effect on the synthesis of phenolic compounds and the accumulation of biomass. The culture medium without AC showed a substantial increase in the synthesis of phenolic compounds without loss of biomass accumulation. Specifically, the intracellular phenolic content in somatic embryos increased more than threefold, while the extracellular phenolic content in the spent liquid medium rose more than fivefold. Additionally, when subcultured every three weeks, the intracellular phenolic content was fivefold higher and the extracellular phenolic content approximately sixfold higher than when subcultured once a week. The combination of subcultures with and without activated charcoal significantly enhanced the production of phenolic compounds and biomass accumulation. Subculturing every week with charcoal for three weeks, followed by two weeks without charcoal, and then three additional weeks without charcoal, resulted in increased biomass accumulation during the first four weeks and also significantly increased accumulation of intracellular phenolic content by sevenfold and extracellular phenolic content by ninefold in the last 3 weeks of the suspension cultures period. Conclusions This study establishes a reliable protocol for the large-scale production of phenolic compounds from date palm, which serve as raw materials for various pharmaceutical and food industries.

This two-year field study (2021–2022) evaluated the effects of soil-applied potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄; 45% K₂O) and trunk-injected ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO₄·7 H₂O) on yield, fruit quality, and leaf mineral composition of ‘Kabkab’ date palm under calcareous, semi-arid conditions. Forty-eight 20-year-old palms were arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with K₂O at 0, 400, 800, and 1200 g palm⁻¹ and FeSO₄·7 H₂O at 0, 11, and 23 g L⁻¹ (1.0 L per palm per application). Injections were performed once per season (two injections in total over the study). Potassium and iron each affected fruit set, total yield, bunch traits, fruit weight, and sugar indices, and several traits exhibited K × Fe interactions. A representative treatment (400 g K₂O combined with 11 g L⁻¹ FeSO₄·7 H₂O) achieved up to 64.4 kg palm⁻¹ in total yield and a mean fruit weight of 17.1 g. Higher K inputs tended to increase total soluble solids and sugars, whereas responses of some physical attributes plateaued at the upper rates. Leaf K, Fe, Zn, and Cu generally increased with fertilisation, while Mn decreased at higher rates. Within the limits of this study, moderate nutrient rates can support productivity and selected quality attributes of ‘Kabkab’ date palm on calcareous soils. Outcomes are site- and cultivar-specific and should be verified across additional locations, seasons, and Fe formulations before broad recommendation.

Background Fruit drop and quality deterioration are major constraints limiting date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) productivity, particularly under environmental constraints. While plant growth regulators (PGRs), particularly synthetic auxins like 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), have demonstrated potential in managing these physiological limitations, cultivar-specific responses and optimal application protocols remain insufficiently characterized. Results This study evaluated the impact of foliar-applied 2,4-D at three concentrations (25, 50, and 75 mg/L) on fruit retention and quality traits in two date palm cultivars under field conditions. Application of 2,4-D, particularly at 50 mg/L during the kimri stage, significantly improved key agronomic parameters, including bunch weight, fruit and pulp weight, fruit length and width, and moisture content. Fruit quality parameters such as total soluble solids (TSS), total sugars, reducing and non-reducing sugars, ascorbic acid, and tannins were also enhanced. Furthermore, antioxidative enzymes peroxidase and catalase, flavonoids, and phenolic content were significantly higher compared to the untreated control. Among the tested cultivars, differential responses were observed, with one cultivar consistently showing superior outcomes in terms of fruit quality. Conclusion The exogenous application of 2,4-D demonstrated a positive effect on reducing fruit drop and enhancing both physical and quality traits in date palm cultivars. These findings suggest that 2,4-D can serve as an effective tool in sustainable date palm production by improving yield and fruit quality under stress conditions.

Background Date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a vital fruit crop cultivated in hot, arid regions due to its economic, nutritional, and ecological significance. Understanding the morphological diversity among different genotypes is crucial for breeding, conservation, and improving yield potential. The current study aimed to assess the phenotypic diversity of 37 date palm genotypes from 27 accessions grown in India's arid climate, focusing on 26 morphological traits. Results The study employed statistical analyses such as ANOVA, correlation analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) to evaluate trait variability and their contributions to yield improvement. Key traits like leaf length (CH1), leaflet length (CH2), bunch length (CH9), bunch weight (CH15), fruit weight (CH16), and pulp weight (CH20) exhibited significant genetic variation. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between bunch weight (CH15) and key yield components, including yield per plant (CH26), number of bunches per plant (CH7), and fruit traits like weight (CH16), width (CH18), and length (CH17). Additionally, negative correlations were observed, such as stone weight (CH19) with the pulp-to-stone ratio (CH21) and total soluble solids (CH25), highlighting trade-offs in fruit composition. The impact of both genetic and environmental factors on trait expression was demonstrated by PCA, which further separated genotypes such as Medjool (MDL) and Tayer (TYR) based on fruit weight and yield, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that PC1, PC2, and PC3 accounted for a significant portion of the total variation, with leaf length, bunch length, fruit weight, and pulp weight being key contributors. Additionally, cluster analysis grouped genotypes into two major clusters, identifying genetically similar accessions such as Gizej and Sakaloti, as well as Binet-A-Isha and Tayer, which could serve as promising breeding material. Conclusion These findings emphasize the rich morphological diversity within date palm accessions and highlight the potential of key morphological traits in breeding programs aimed at enhancing fruit quality and yield stability under hot-arid conditions.

Low fruit quality presents a significant challenge for numerous date-producing countries, including certain cultivars resulting from tissue culture. Fruit thinning alone enhances fruit quality but slightly decreases productivity. So, the aim of this experiment was to improve the quality characteristics of Medjool fruits through four different fruit thinning methods: control (12 bunches per palm), removing 1/3 bunches number, removing 1/3 strands length of the bunch, removing 1/3 strands number of the bunches, these methods were integrated with spraying 0.25% calcium boron (CaB) or 0.2% potassium phosphite (KP), as well as control (tap water), which applied once (fruit set or Kimri stage or Khalal stage) for thinning methods. At Kimri stage, removing 1/3 strands number successfully enhanced fruit weight, length, and size by 10.44%, 8.28%, and 15.68%, while incorporating CaB to removing 1/3 strands number led to increases of 43%, 26.78%, and 52.78%, while incorporating KP with removing 1/3 strands number resulted in increases of 42.67%, 26.31%, and 44.22%, compared to control, as mean of both seasons, respectively. At Khalal stage, combining removing 1/3 strands number and CaB increased fruit TSS and total sugars by 18.85% and 33.65%, while combined removing 1/3 strands number and KP increased them by 19.29% and 23.81%, respectively. In conclusion, nutrient spraying improved fruit chemical properties and the early spraying stage was more effective in improving fruit physical properties, whereas later spraying improved fruit chemical properties. Also, thinning enhances fruit physical properties and provides more nutrients for the remaining fruits. The integrated application of thinning and spraying nutrients improved fruit’s physical and chemical properties.

Growth regulators can improve the quality and production of fruit trees. This research was conducted over two successive years to evaluate the effect of preharvest sprays of growth regulators on the physicochemical properties of date palm fruit ( Phoenix dactylifera cv. ‘Shahabi’) during khalal and tamar stages in a palm research station at Bushehr province. In the first year, fruit bunches of these trees were sprayed at the kimri stage, and in the second year at the kimri and hababouk + kimri stages, using NAA (100 mg/L), GA 3 (100 mg/L), KI (100 mg/L), SA (50 mg/L), Put (1.288 × 10 3 mg/L), and distilled water as the control. Foliar spraying of ‘Shahabi’ date clusters with all plant growth regulators at the kimri stage did not have significant effects on traits such as length, diameter, weight and volume of the fruit compared to the control but, foliar spraying in the hababouk + kimri stage with NAA and to some extent Put caused a significant increase in these factors in the khalal and tamar stages. Foliar spraying with all growth regulators caused a significant increase in the weight of pulp in the khalal and tamar stages. With foliar application of Put, SA, GA 3 , and especially NAA, cluster weight and yield percent showed a significant increase compared to the control at the tamar stage. In general, the percentage of fruit drop in the foliar application of all growth regulators in the hababouk + kimri stage was significantly higher compared to the foliar application in the kimri stage. Foliar spraying in the kimri stage significantly reduced the fruit drop compared to the control but foliar application of NAA, GA 3 and SA in the hababouk + kimri stage significantly increased the fruit drop compared to the control. Foliar spraying of all plant growth regulators in the kimri and hababouk + kimri stages caused a significant decrease in the percentage of TSS as well as the percentage of total carbohydrates compared to the control in the khalal and tamar stages. Foliar spraying with all plant growth regulators in the kimri and hababouk + kimri stages caused a significant increase in the TA percentage in khalal stage compared to the control.

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a key crop in the arid regions of North Africa and the Middle East, with substantial socioeconomic value. Although multiple genome assemblies have been generated using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, they primarily focus on Middle Eastern cultivars, leaving North African varieties unrepresented. This study aims to address this gap by sequencing and assembling the first genome of a North African date palm using Illumina sequencing technology. We present a draft genome assembly of the elite Tunisian variety Deglet Nour. By comparing it with the Barhee BC4 reference genome, we identify key genetic variants, including single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and insertions/deletions (INDELs), potentially associated with ripening processes and fruit quality. This work expands the genomic resources for date palm research, particularly for North African cultivars, and provides new insights into the nucleotide-level variability of the genes linked to key agronomic traits.

Adaptability to salinity varies between different varieties of date palm trees. This research aims to explore the long-term impact of different salinity irrigation levels on the mineral content of 13 date palm varieties grown in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Date varieties were grown using three irrigation water salinity levels of 5, 10 and 15 dS m−1. The mineral composition (B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P and Zn) of date palm fruits was determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). High salinity levels showed no effect on the mineral content of Ajwat AlMadinah, Naghal, Barhi, Shagri, Abu Maan, Jabri, Sukkari and Rothan varieties. All date varieties remained good sources of dietary potassium, magnesium, manganese and boron even at high salinity levels. Increased salinity had no effect on the percent Daily Value (%DV) categories of most of the analyzed minerals. While no genotypes showed a general adaptation to different saline environments, Barhi, Ajwat Al Madinah, Khinizi, Maktoumi and Shagri varieties were more stable towards salinity variation. In the UAE, the genotype x saline-environment interaction was found to be high which makes it impossible to attribute the variation in mineral content to a single varietal or salinity effect.

Date bunch drying and wilting disorder (DBDWD) manifests in the development stage of date fruits from the Kharak to the Rutab of development, coinciding with the occurrence of hot and dry winds. This phenomenon presents a significant and detrimental challenge for producers, resulting in substantial economic losses. The present study aimed to reduce this disorder in a randomized complete block design involving 10-year-old date palms (cv. Mazafati). The bunch tails of the palms were covered by the nanocomposite formulation of g-C 3 N 4 /ZnO/PVA (where g-C 3 N 4 denotes graphitic carbon nitride, ZnO refers to zinc oxide nanoparticles, and PVA represents polyvinyl alcohol) at two different concentrations (100 and 200 ppm) of ZnO nanoparticles at the early Kharak or Khalal stage of fruit development. The findings indicated that the covering of bunch tail with the g-C 3 N 4 /ZnO/PVA nanocomposite resulted in a significant reduction in DBDWD and an enhancement in both fruit quality and bunch yield. Specifically, g-C 3 N 4 /ZnO/PVA nanocomposite at concentrations of 100 and 200 ppm of ZnO nanoparticles led to reductions in DBDWD of 35 and 88%, respectively, along with increases in flavonoid content of 27 and 29% compared to the control group. Additionally, the covering of bunch tail with the g-C 3 N 4 /ZnO/PVA also resulted in a significant increase in both bunch yield and fruit phenolic content, as well as improvements in fruit weight, length, pulp weight, and the pulp-to-pit ratio relative to the control group. Consequently, the covering of bunch tail with the g-C 3 N 4 /ZnO/PVA effectively mitigates DBDWD while enhancing yield and fruit quality.