Long-term date palm experiment for Evaluation of Elite Date Palm Varieties for biotic and abiotic stress
Season
2021-2022
Research Theme
Experiment Team
Objectives
- Assess the long-term impact of salinity on date palm growth, productivity, and fruit quality as well as on land (soil)
- Asses the genotypic differences for fruit quality, quantity, and disease and pest susceptibility.
- Scale-up best management practices under salinity stress -> Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy
- Develop the Palm Smart Management Solution modules for Irrigation,
- Develop the Palm Smart Management Solution modules for Infestation Complete Surveillance, and Early detection and compare the effectiveness of different new control techniques for Red Palm Weevil
- Conserving the existing genetic resources by replanting the missing trees using tissue culture technique (lost after severe disease affectation)
Experiment Details
Planting date: 2001 and 2002
Field Variables:
- Date Palm Varieties: 18 (10 from UAE; 7 from Saudi Arabia and 1 from Iraq)
- Salinity levels: 4 (0.4 dS/m, 5 dS/m, 10 dS/m and 15 dS/m)
- Replications: Variable; 2 for 0.4 dS/m, 3 for 5 dS/m and 5 each for 10 and 15 dS/m
- Planting arrangement: Systematic planting in rows within each salinity level