Date Palm (
Medjool is improved, introduced cultivar and one of the finest dates produced in Palestine, regionally and globally. Because it is grown in areas below sea level, there is an increase in the proportion of oxygen available to the palm, which aids respiration and in turn adds flavor and a distinctive color to the fruits
Date palm is considered one of the economically feasible crops in Palestine. For this reason, conservation of local cultivars is a priority for date palm farming. However, the introduction of improved cultivars and lack of attention to local varieties leads to their loss. The aim of this study was to describe the phenotypic diversity of Palestinian date palm cultivars, identify discriminants descriptors that can be used in the field to recognize and differentiate between cultivars, assess similarity relationship among the local date palm cultivars, and to identify the most economically and environmentally feasible cultivars in order to preserve them.
Jericho is a Palestinian city in the West Bank.It isthe oldest city in the world31°52′16″N, 35°26′39″E located innorth to the altitude of 273 m below sea level Figure 1C, and the humidity is 49 %.in Jericho governorate at Palestinian Jordan valley were chosen as follows: Jericho Agriculture Experiment station (NARC); Arab Development Society SHijleh station (DH)
Thirty-five indigenous and exotic female date palm cultivars were selected from the three identified stations, which represent the diversity of all dates cultivars in the area based on the records of the stations. There were 13 samples from NARC, 12 from ADS and 10 samples from DH station Table 2.The experiment was designed as a completely randomized design with three replications. Fruit samples at the full ripening stage were collected from the identified cultivars during the harvest season in September 2018, and repeated in September 2019. While, leaf samples were collected from the same cultivars during February 2019. In order to conduct the morphological characterization, twenty-two (22) vegetative traits of the date palm were analysed for all of the identified trees. Out of which 10 were agronomic (fruit and seed traits) (MP1-MP10) and 12 were leave traits (MP11- MP22) as described in Table 1. These characters have already been reported as a standard descriptor to characterize date palm
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Colour |
MP1 |
Scale of notation |
Texture |
MP2 |
Scale of notation |
|
Length |
MP3 |
Mm |
|
Width |
MP4 |
Mm |
|
Volume |
MP5 |
cm3 |
|
Weight of the flesh part |
MP6 |
gr |
|
Weight of the fruit |
MP7 |
Gr |
|
|
Length |
MP8 |
Mm |
Width |
MP9 |
Mm |
|
Weight |
MP10 |
Gr |
|
|
Leaf length |
MP11 |
Cm |
Leaf width |
MP12 |
Cm |
|
Middle leaflet length |
MP13 |
Cm |
|
Middle leaflet width |
MP14 |
Cm |
|
Middle spine length |
MP15 |
Cm |
|
Middle spine width |
MP16 |
Cm |
|
Spinate part length |
MP17 |
Cm |
|
Leaflet number |
MP18 |
Scale of notation |
|
Spine number |
MP19 |
Scale of notation |
|
Colour |
MP20 |
Scale of notation |
|
|
Curvature of the leaf |
MP21 |
Scale of notation |
|
Arrangement of spines |
MP22 |
Scale of notation |
With: gr: gram; mm: millimeter; cm: centimeter.
Statistical analyses were performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) to detect significant variation among the cultivars for each trait, and differences between the means were determined using Tukey’s HSD test at p < 0.01.
Traits means values were used to perform principal component analysis (PCA) and the correlation analyses (CA) to test whether the variables are correlated in the population
Phenotypic characterization of the thirty-five cultivars for leaves, fruits and seeds were studied and the mean values of the measured traits (MP1-MP22) are given in
Dry types are considerably easier to store than soft types that are consumed fresh during the production season. This is an indication of its mixed group (dry, semisoft, or soft) because of seed propagation
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Deir Hijleh Station |
Baladi 7 |
DH1 |
Golden |
Semi-dry |
Pale green |
Curving |
Solo |
Baladi 8 |
DH2 |
Dark brown |
Soft |
Bright green |
Standing |
Paired |
|
Baladi 9 |
DH3 |
Brown |
Soft |
Pale green |
Semi-curving |
Paired |
|
Baladi 10 |
DH4 |
Golden |
Dry |
Pale green |
Semi-curving |
Paired |
|
Baladi 11 |
DH5 |
Brown |
Semi-dry |
Pale green |
Standing |
Paired |
|
Baladi 12 |
DH6 |
Brown |
Semi-dry |
Pale green |
Standing |
Paired |
|
Baladi 13 |
DH7 |
Brown |
Soft |
Dark green |
Semi-curving |
Paired |
|
Maijhool 2 |
DH8 |
Dark brown |
So soft |
Pale green |
Semi-curving |
Triple |
|
Baladi 14 |
DH9 |
Brown |
Semi-dry |
Dark green |
Standing |
Solo |
|
Baladi 15 |
DH10 |
Brown |
Soft |
Bright green |
Semi-curving |
Solo |
|
Arab Development Society Station |
Baladi 16 |
ADS1 |
Brown |
Soft |
Pale green |
Semi-curving |
Paired |
Baladi 17 |
ADS2 |
Brown |
Soft |
Pale green |
Semi- curving |
Solo |
|
Baladi 18 |
ADS3 |
Brown |
Soft |
Dark green |
Standing |
Solo |
|
Baladi 19 |
ADS4 |
Golden |
Soft |
Dark green |
Standing |
Paired |
|
Baladi 20 |
ADS5 |
Brown |
Soft |
Pale green |
Semi- curving |
Solo |
|
Baladi 21 |
ADS6 |
Golden |
Soft |
Dark green |
Standing |
Solo |
|
Baladi 22 |
ADS7 |
Golden |
Soft |
Pale green |
Curving |
Solo |
|
Baladi 23 |
ADS8 |
Dark brown |
Semi-dry |
Pale green |
Standing |
Paired |
|
Baladi 24 |
ADS9 |
Dark brown |
Soft |
Bright green |
Semi-curving |
Solo |
|
Baladi 25 |
ADS10 |
Dark brown |
Soft |
Pale green |
Semi-curving |
Solo |
|
Baladi 26 |
ADS11 |
Golden |
Soft |
Dark green |
Curving |
Paired |
|
Baladi 27 |
ADS12 |
Golden |
Semi-dry |
Pale green |
Standing |
Paired |
|
Jericho Agriculture Experiment Station |
Maijhool 1 |
NARC7 |
Dark brown |
So soft |
Pale green |
Standing |
Solo |
Barhi |
NARC8 |
Golden |
So soft |
Pale green |
Semi-curving |
Solo |
|
Deglet Nour |
NARC9 |
Golden |
Semi-dry |
Pale green |
Standing |
Triple |
|
Hijazi |
NARC10 |
Dark brown |
Semi-dry |
Dark green |
Semi-curving |
Solo |
|
Zhedi |
NARC11 |
Golden |
Semi-dry |
Bright green |
Semi-curving |
Solo |
|
Khadrawy |
NARC12 |
Golden |
Semi-dry |
Dark green |
Semi-curving |
Solo |
|
Hayani |
NARC13 |
Dark brown |
Soft |
Dark green |
Standing |
Solo |
|
Baladi 1 |
NARC1 |
Golden |
Soft |
Pale green |
Semi-curving |
Solo |
|
Baladi 2 |
NARC2 |
Golden |
So soft |
Bright green |
Standing |
Solo |
|
Baladi 3 |
NARC3 |
Dark brown |
Semi-dry |
Bright green |
Semi-curving |
Solo |
|
Baladi 4 |
NARC4 |
Golden |
Soft |
Pale green |
Standing |
Solo |
|
Baladi 5 |
NARC5 |
Golden |
Soft |
Pale green |
Semi-curving |
Solo |
|
Baladi 6 |
NARC6 |
Golden |
Soft |
Pale green |
Standing |
Solo |
Furthermore, eight quantitative fruit morphological features (fruit weight (MP7), flesh weight (MP6), fruit size (MP5), seed weight (MP10), date length (MP3), seed length (MP8), seed diameter (MP9) and date diameter (MP4) vary significantly (p<0.01)
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Deir Hijleh Station |
1. |
DH1 |
25.73 |
18.9 |
6.07 |
5.2 |
5.73 |
18.6 |
6.83 |
0.63 |
11 |
2. |
DH2 |
25.6 |
17.1 |
6.07 |
6.37 |
7.13 |
17.2 |
8.03 |
0.8 |
11.2 |
|
3. |
DH3 |
31.2 |
18.1 |
7.83 |
8.23 |
8.93 |
20.2 |
7.4 |
0.83 |
9.33 |
|
4. |
DH4 |
41.67 |
18.6 |
8.7 |
7.63 |
8.4 |
22.9 |
7.27 |
0.96 |
11.4 |
|
5. |
DH5 |
36.47 |
19.8 |
9.83 |
9.03 |
9.9 |
23.3 |
8.47 |
1.25 |
12.6 |
|
6. |
DH6 |
25.1 |
18.2 |
6.07 |
5.93 |
7.53 |
22.1 |
6.9 |
0.74 |
9.82 |
|
7. |
DH7 |
35.03 |
15.9 |
6.17 |
6.53 |
7.03 |
21.7 |
7.3 |
0.92 |
13 |
|
8. |
DH8 |
35.93 |
23.4 |
12.2 |
11.9 |
13.6 |
20.7 |
9.5 |
1.21 |
8.85 |
|
9. |
DH9 |
31.23 |
18.3 |
6.07 |
5.53 |
6.1 |
21.3 |
7.57 |
0.93 |
15.3 |
|
10. |
DH10 |
20.77 |
16.3 |
4.07 |
2.8 |
3.57 |
15.2 |
8.9 |
1 |
28 |
|
Arab Development Society Station |
11. |
ADS1 |
23.43 |
18.7 |
4.1 |
5.57 |
7.3 |
16.7 |
8.37 |
1.13 |
15.5 |
12. |
ADS2 |
21.97 |
12.7 |
2.1 |
2.83 |
4.2 |
16.8 |
5.53 |
0.7 |
16.7 |
|
13. |
ADS3 |
27.93 |
16.5 |
3.1 |
4.83 |
6.63 |
20.7 |
8.5 |
1.27 |
19.1 |
|
14. |
ADS4 |
23.5 |
16.7 |
2.1 |
3.3 |
4.5 |
16.7 |
8.6 |
1.13 |
25.2 |
|
15. |
ADS5 |
28.87 |
15.6 |
3.1 |
4.7 |
5.83 |
19.8 |
7.27 |
0.93 |
16 |
|
16. |
ADS6 |
24.03 |
16.8 |
2.1 |
4.1 |
4.6 |
16.1 |
6.3 |
0.57 |
12.3 |
|
17. |
ADS7 |
25.33 |
17 |
2.07 |
3.7 |
5.5 |
18.2 |
8.3 |
1.17 |
21.2 |
|
18. |
ADS8 |
32.5 |
20.3 |
2.1 |
4.83 |
6 |
19.7 |
8.6 |
1.17 |
19.4 |
|
19. |
ADS9 |
28.67 |
17.4 |
3.07 |
4.23 |
5.33 |
18.5 |
7.83 |
1.07 |
20 |
|
20. |
ADS10 |
19.23 |
13.4 |
1.17 |
2.27 |
3.5 |
14 |
8.3 |
1.07 |
30.5 |
|
21. |
ADS11 |
21.97 |
14.5 |
2.1 |
2.8 |
3.53 |
14.6 |
6.73 |
0.67 |
18.9 |
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22. |
ADS12 |
26.87 |
14.5 |
2.13 |
2.8 |
3.83 |
18.4 |
7.67 |
0.93 |
24.3 |
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Jericho Agriculture Experiment Station |
23. |
NARC7 |
39.1 |
23.1 |
12.2 |
12.1 |
13.2 |
21.7 |
10.2 |
1.2 |
9.06 |
24. |
NARC8 |
30.3 |
21.2 |
9.5 |
7.47 |
9.43 |
18.2 |
7.97 |
1.1 |
11.7 |
|
25. |
NARC9 |
45.07 |
19.8 |
9.53 |
11 |
11.5 |
23 |
6.23 |
0.81 |
7.06 |
|
26. |
NARC10 |
33.77 |
19.8 |
8.43 |
7.77 |
7.83 |
22.9 |
8.1 |
0.83 |
10.6 |
|
27. |
NARC11 |
26.47 |
17.5 |
5.77 |
3.9 |
4.77 |
19.7 |
7.76 |
0.77 |
16.1 |
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28. |
NARC12 |
19.97 |
15.2 |
2.83 |
2.9 |
3.57 |
17.3 |
9.64 |
1.6 |
44.9 |
|
29. |
NARC13 |
33.53 |
18.2 |
5.5 |
6.1 |
6.9 |
21.6 |
8.13 |
1.37 |
19.8 |
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30. |
NARC1 |
47.01 |
7.1 |
8.17 |
7.91 |
8.57 |
29.3 |
7.14 |
1.09 |
12.7 |
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31. |
NARC2 |
27.22 |
16.6 |
6.33 |
5.13 |
5.88 |
19 |
8.28 |
1.03 |
17.5 |
|
32. |
NARC3 |
29.9 |
16.8 |
4.67 |
4.04 |
4.81 |
20.3 |
8.24 |
0.98 |
20.5 |
|
33. |
NARC4 |
32.48 |
19.3 |
9.67 |
8.87 |
9.8 |
23.9 |
8.67 |
1.27 |
12.9 |
|
34. |
NARC5 |
31.5 |
19.2 |
9.37 |
8.73 |
9.63 |
23.2 |
8.1 |
1.21 |
12.5 |
|
35. |
NARC6 |
31.23 |
17 |
8.5 |
8.13 |
9.13 |
21.4 |
7.77 |
1.17 |
12.8 |
The weight of fruits varied between 13.63g in Maijhool (improved and introduced cultivars) to 3.5 g in Baladi 25 cultivar. From local cultivars, the Baladi 11 cultivar showed the highest date weight and flesh weight, (i.e., 9.9 g, and 9.03 g) followed by cultivar Baladi 4 (9.8 g and 8.87 g). The minimum and maximum date’s weight (3.04 - 8.50 and 11.60 - 28.71 g in different cultivars have been reported in other studies
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Deir Hijleh Station |
1. |
DH1 |
381.7 |
93.7 |
52 |
3.47 |
9.3 |
0.61 |
104 |
14 |
84 |
2. |
DH2 |
392.3 |
93.7 |
41 |
2.5 |
11.8 |
0.35 |
93.3 |
12 |
140.7 |
|
3. |
DH3 |
292.3 |
93.7 |
44.3 |
2.8 |
8.33 |
0.27 |
94.3 |
14.3 |
51 |
|
4. |
DH4 |
316 |
61.2 |
30.7 |
2.47 |
9.77 |
0.23 |
89.3 |
15.3 |
77.67 |
|
5. |
DH5 |
351.7 |
113 |
55 |
2.97 |
17.8 |
0.57 |
72.3 |
10.3 |
104.3 |
|
6. |
DH6 |
315 |
156 |
48.3 |
2.7 |
7.5 |
0.45 |
76.3 |
18.3 |
87 |
|
7. |
DH7 |
395 |
137 |
67.2 |
2.47 |
15.5 |
0.6 |
84.3 |
16.7 |
120.7 |
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8. |
DH8 |
310 |
124 |
60.7 |
3.8 |
14.3 |
0.62 |
86.7 |
11.3 |
63.33 |
|
9. |
DH9 |
297.7 |
113 |
55 |
3.5 |
9.5 |
0.62 |
86.3 |
18.3 |
76 |
|
10. |
DH10 |
320.7 |
123 |
60.7 |
3.03 |
11.5 |
0.62 |
83 |
9.33 |
51 |
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Arab Development Society Station |
11. |
ADS1 |
318.3 |
150 |
30.5 |
2.7 |
13.5 |
0.46 |
95 |
8 |
100.2 |
12. |
ADS2 |
268 |
105 |
51.7 |
3.03 |
14.2 |
0.78 |
92.3 |
14.3 |
58.17 |
|
13. |
ADS3 |
296.3 |
81.3 |
40.2 |
3.03 |
11.5 |
0.55 |
87 |
9.33 |
67.9 |
|
14. |
ADS4 |
357 |
96.2 |
46.7 |
3.5 |
8.5 |
0.52 |
86.3 |
13.3 |
124.7 |
|
15. |
ADS5 |
287 |
88 |
43.5 |
2.5 |
11.3 |
0.4 |
90.3 |
12 |
56.33 |
|
16. |
ADS6 |
303.3 |
86.4 |
41.5 |
3.7 |
6.4 |
0.4 |
72.3 |
9.67 |
86.67 |
|
17. |
ADS7 |
330 |
119 |
57.7 |
3.5 |
8.33 |
0.44 |
97 |
10.3 |
75.67 |
|
18. |
ADS8 |
325.3 |
83.2 |
40 |
2.7 |
9.5 |
0.45 |
92.3 |
14.3 |
76.33 |
|
19. |
ADS9 |
230 |
91.5 |
45.3 |
2.5 |
7.5 |
0.38 |
85 |
10 |
68 |
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20. |
ADS10 |
387 |
75.3 |
36.3 |
2.4 |
10.5 |
0.44 |
83 |
13 |
129 |
|
21. |
ADS11 |
329.7 |
87.2 |
42.5 |
2.53 |
17 |
0.59 |
95 |
9.67 |
99 |
|
22. |
ADS12 |
341 |
79 |
38 |
3.77 |
8.5 |
0.75 |
113 |
13.7 |
109.7 |
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Jericho Agriculture Experiment Station |
23. |
NARC7 |
316 |
104 |
51.3 |
3.5 |
14.5 |
0.52 |
67 |
13.7 |
110.7 |
24. |
NARC8 |
341 |
83.7 |
40.7 |
3.87 |
9.5 |
0.45 |
100 |
14.7 |
87.67 |
|
25. |
NARC9 |
353 |
115 |
57.5 |
3.5 |
16.5 |
0.73 |
65 |
18.7 |
137.3 |
|
26. |
NARC10 |
352.7 |
111 |
54.3 |
3.5 |
13.5 |
0.47 |
74.3 |
9.67 |
69 |
|
27. |
NARC11 |
352.3 |
104 |
50.7 |
2.67 |
8.5 |
0.32 |
100 |
17.3 |
69.67 |
|
28. |
NARC12 |
242.7 |
66.7 |
33 |
3.03 |
5.5 |
0.42 |
80.3 |
8.67 |
60.33 |
|
29. |
NARC13 |
277 |
117 |
57 |
3.17 |
10.5 |
0.32 |
64.3 |
15 |
62.67 |
|
30. |
NARC1 |
345.3 |
100 |
49.5 |
2.83 |
16.3 |
0.51 |
79 |
4.33 |
55.33 |
|
31. |
NARC2 |
289.3 |
93.3 |
44.8 |
2.52 |
5.83 |
0.3 |
75 |
6.67 |
73 |
|
32. |
NARC3 |
289.7 |
84.2 |
41.3 |
2.83 |
7.5 |
0.34 |
88.7 |
5.67 |
45.33 |
|
33. |
NARC4 |
308.3 |
114 |
55.5 |
2.5 |
4 |
0.31 |
84.3 |
5.67 |
61.67 |
|
34. |
NARC5 |
290 |
75.3 |
37.7 |
3.33 |
3.83 |
0.46 |
88.3 |
6 |
67 |
|
35. |
NARC6 |
256.7 |
96.3 |
46.7 |
3.67 |
3.88 |
0.44 |
88 |
4.67 |
29.83 |
*Leaflets number in one side. **Spines number on one side.
Measurement of quantitative morphological traits of Date Palm leaves Table 1 revealed significant variation between cultivars. Leaf length (MP11) and width (MP12), Middle leaflet length (MP13) and width (MP14), Middle spine length (MP15) and width (MP16), leaflets number (MP18), spines number (MP19), spinate part length (MP17), are shown in Table 5. Results indicated that Leaf length and width ranged from 395 cm and 150 cm to 230 cm and 61.2 cm respectively. Middle leaves length and width ranged from 67.2 cm and 3.87 cm to 30.5 cm and 2.4 cm. Middle spine length and width ranged from 17.8 cm and 0.75 cm to 3.83 cm and 0.23 cm. Cultivar ADS12 showed the highest leaflets number (113 leaflets), NARC9 has the highest spines number (18.7 spines) and the longest spinate part length (140.7 mm) was recorded in cultivar DH2. While the lowest leaflet and spine numbers (64.3 and 6) were recorded in cultivars NARC5 and NARC6 respectively Table 4. These results are in agreement with findings of Simozrag et al., (2016)
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MP3 |
.826 |
.076 |
MP12 |
.333 |
.426 |
MP4 |
.558 |
-.046 |
MP13 |
.446 |
.443 |
MP5 |
.919 |
-.039 |
MP14 |
.279 |
.088 |
MP6 |
.961 |
.009 |
MP15 |
.264 |
.674 |
MP7 |
.945 |
-.010 |
MP16 |
.003 |
.628 |
MP8 |
.756 |
-.101 |
MP17 |
-.502 |
.032 |
MP9 |
.279 |
-.523 |
MP18 |
.020 |
.637 |
MP10 |
.295 |
-.692 |
MP19 |
-.028 |
.646 |
MP11 |
.041 |
.698 |
|
To obtain a comprehensive overview of the morphological traits of date palm in correlation to cultivar, the whole data set was subjected to PCA. Results showed that the phenotypic diversity existed among 35 studied date palm varieties based on the 17 quantitative morphological characteristics (Table 5). In fact, the results of PCA showed that the first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) were associated with eigenvalues higher than one and accounted 59.5% of the total cumulative variation. The first component (35.2%) was strongly positively correlated (> 0.5) based on Date fruit weight (MP7), flesh weight (MP6), fruit size (MP5), date length (MP3), seed length (MP8) and date diameter (MP4) analysis. While, spinate part length (MP17) trait is negatively correlated. The second component (24.3% of the total variability) was positively influenced by the middle spine length (MP15), width (MP16), leaflets number (MP18), spines number (MP19) and leaf length (MP11), and negatively correlated with seed diameter (MP9) and seed weight (MP10) (Table 5). Our results are in agreement with the results of Elsafy et al. (2015) and Salem, et al. (2008)
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1 |
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.040 |
1 |
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-.155 |
.295 |
1 |
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.030 |
.212 |
1 |
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-.338* |
.213 |
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1 |
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-.295 |
.246 |
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1 |
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-.291 |
.230 |
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1 |
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-.003 |
.232 |
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.068 |
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1 |
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-.139 |
.009 |
-.020 |
.405* |
.221 |
.200 |
.239 |
-.012 |
1 |
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.041 |
-.141 |
.136 |
.152 |
.158 |
.189 |
.240 |
.210 |
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1 |
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.023 |
.332 |
.098 |
-.007 |
.080 |
.061 |
.038 |
-.022 |
-.089 |
-.345* |
1 |
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-.067 |
-.060 |
.070 |
.197 |
.208 |
.239 |
.264 |
.166 |
-.024 |
-.096 |
.171 |
1 |
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-.074 |
.092 |
.292 |
.159 |
.324 |
.308 |
.274 |
.292 |
-.031 |
-.091 |
.211 |
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1 |
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-.293 |
-.103 |
.113 |
.334* |
.243 |
.261 |
.277 |
.034 |
.078 |
.059 |
-.027 |
.009 |
.211 |
1 |
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.056 |
.135 |
.350* |
-.071 |
.153 |
.238 |
.229 |
.113 |
-.139 |
-.179 |
.446 |
.322 |
.339* |
-.064 |
1 |
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.021 |
-.044 |
-.005 |
-.112 |
-.076 |
-.022 |
-.011 |
-.087 |
-.224 |
-.183 |
.228 |
.236 |
.361* |
.439** |
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1 |
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-.069 |
.072 |
-.380* |
-.136 |
-.315 |
-.396* |
-.343* |
-.351* |
-.136 |
-.223 |
.154 |
-.252 |
-.319 |
.008 |
-.202 |
.093 |
1 |
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-.196 |
-.032 |
.067 |
.264 |
-.018 |
.009 |
.013 |
-.094 |
-.294 |
-.368* |
.331 |
.204 |
.227 |
.061 |
.247 |
.234 |
.039 |
1 |
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-.016 |
.101 |
-.012 |
.102 |
-.062 |
.035 |
.034 |
-.241 |
-.051 |
-.207 |
. |
.098 |
-.031 |
-.030 |
.401* |
.279 |
-.065 |
.445 |
1 |
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.073 |
-.063 |
-.357* |
.029 |
-.107 |
-.169 |
-.184 |
-.300 |
.190 |
.052 |
-.188 |
-.077 |
.012 |
.224 |
-.43* |
-.175 |
-.086 |
-.225 |
-.267 |
1 |
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.133 |
-.064 |
-.001 |
-.236 |
-.036 |
-.076 |
-.125 |
.072 |
-.212 |
-.235 |
.085 |
-.157 |
.192 |
.110 |
.053 |
.240 |
-.174 |
.042 |
-.034 |
.094 |
1 |
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.058 |
-.130 |
-.264 |
-.140 |
-.339* |
-.354* |
-.322 |
-.273 |
-.001 |
-.104 |
.096 |
-.097 |
.046 |
-.106 |
.218 |
.286 |
.294 |
.248 |
-.008 |
-.183 |
.141 |
1 |
**Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed), * Correlation is significant at the 0.05 level(2-tailed)
The graphic representation of variables according to the plan axis one and two showed that these variables were positively correlated
The dendrogram of cluster analysis
Overall, the correlations between the studied traits showed positive correlations between most of them and many traits showed high positive correlation at 0.01-probability level. However, the following traits had a coefficient correlation more than 0.50 Table 6. It shows that trait correlations have more or less importance. In fact, the date length (MP3) correlated positively with the fruit size (MP5), flesh weight (MP6), date fruit weight (MP7) and seed length (MP8). Date diameter (MP4) was positively correlated with the fruit size (MP5), flesh weight (MP6) and date fruit weight (MP7); the fruit size (MP5) was positively correlated with the flesh weight (MP6), date fruit weight (MP7) and seed length (MP8). In addition, the flesh weight (MP6) with date fruit weight (MP7) and seed length (MP8). Seed diameter (MP9) was positively correlated with seed weight (MP10); the leaf length (MP11) with spines number (MP19), the leaf width (12) with middle leaflet length (13) and the middle spine length (MP15) with middle spine width (MP16). Whereas, a negative correlation between the date diameter (MP4) with fruit colour (MP1), and the middle spine length (MP15) with leaf colour (MP20) was observed Table 6. Thus, a study of a trait can give an idea on the other according to the antagonist or the synergy of traits. Correlation analysis was used in similar studies to demonstrate the degree of correlation between the phenotypic properties of palm trees, and they obtained similar results for this study
The results of this study confirmed that the studied morphological traits could be a useful tool to assess the phenotypic diversity in date palm cultivars and constitute a complementary way for other characterization processes. From this study results, the best studied morphological characteristics that can be used to distinguish between the different varieties of date palm were MP 3-8, MP 11-13, MP 15-16 and MP 18-19. Morphological characterization of the main date palm fruits cultivars grown in Jericho governorate revealed significant variations from cultivar to another and within the same cultivar from region to another. We conclude from this study that some statistical methods such as CA and PCA can be used to study the degree of similarities and differences between date palm varieties.
In this study, local varieties with specifications similar to those of known improved cultivars have been determined, especially in the physical properties of fruits, and the best of these were NARC1, NARC4, NARC5, DH4 and DH5. These local varieties have grown from seeds and have been selected by farmers over the years, which closely similar to the improved and introduced varieties. These local varieties have adapted to the high temperature, soil salinity and lack of water that characterizes the Jericho region in Palestine. Therefore, we recommend to collecting and propagate these varieties in order to preserve them.
This study was supported by FAO within the framework of FAO ongoing project “Support economic growth through optimized agricultural value chains in the West Bank” – funded by the Government of Canada, and in full coordination with the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC)/(MoA), Palestine. Special thanks go to staff at Jericho Agriculture Experiment Station; Arab Development Society Station and Deir Hijleh Station who helped in collecting field data and for providing logistical assistance and support.