Preliminary date palm cultivar composition of Moroccan palm groves as revealed by leaf isoenzyme phenotypes

• Published in: Biochemical systematics and ecology Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 71 - 82
• Main Authors: Bendiab, K, Baaziz, M, Majourhat, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.1998
• Subjects: Cultivar composition; Date palm grove; Isoenzyme phenotype; Phoenix dactylifera L; Cultivar composition; Date palm grove; Isoenzyme phenotype; Phoenix dactylifera L
• ISSN: 0305-1978; 1873-2925
• DOI: 10.1016/S0305-1978(97)00078-1

Based on isoenzyme electrophoresis, 28 reputed cultivars of the date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) previously characterized by morphological characters, were identified using the more variable enzyme systems in the date palm: esterases (EST), endopeptidases (ENP) and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), which showed, respectively, eight, six and seven electrophoretic phenotypes in leaf material. The phenotype combinations lead to an isoenzymebased key for date palm cultivar determination. Cultivar composition of 11 date palm groves, differing in their geographical origins, were compared. Unidentified material represented about 67% (±11%) of each date palm grove with the exception of populations at M’hamid and Rissani. This result confirmed the predominance of date palms derived from germinated seeds and called locally ‘Khalts’. The most frequent cultivars within the 11 date palm groves were Jihel and Bou-Feggouss, which exhibit good fruit qualities. Based on the cultivar composition of each population, the factorial component analysis showed that the Marrakech date palm grove situated at the northern side of High Atlas, was related to date palm groves of Skoura, Ait Atman, Ksar Jdid and Ksar Sifa. Date palm populations of Zagora, M’hamid and Rissani, each represented a unique type, were characterized by cultivars Bou-Sthammi Noire, Bou-Skri (and Iklane) and Bou-Feggouss, respectively. Cultivar compositions of date palms groves, determined separately on the basis of isoenzymes phenotypes and fruit qualities, were compared and discussed.