PhD Dissertation at the University of Basra Explores the Genetic Traits of Ten Date Palm Varieties
The College of Agriculture at the University of Basra examined a PhD dissertation entitled: “Utilizing Modern Technologies to Study the Genetic and Biochemical Traits of Some Date Palm Varieties Produced via Tissue Culture and Vegetative Propagation.”
The dissertation, submitted by researcher Hamza Abdul Zahra Mohammed, aimed to investigate ten date palm varieties by employing genetic engineering techniques to reveal the genetic diversity between tissue-cultured and vegetatively propagated varieties through offshoots, in addition to analyzing their biochemical and anatomical traits.
The study utilized SSR and ISSR markers, as well as nucleotide sequencing of the rbcL gene. The results indicated a 99% genetic similarity among the varieties.
The study recommended adopting molecular and biochemical analyses as key classification tools and enriching the genetic library of date palms.
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