Publication Details
Abstract
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivation is a cornerstone of agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions, with significant cultural and economic importance. Specific Background: In Iraq, the date palm sector faces critical challenges due to traditional propagation methods and limited genetic diversity. Despite the known advantages of tissue culture for mass propagation and disease-free plant production, there is insufficient localized research on its effective implementation in Iraqi varieties. This study aimed to evaluate the role of tissue culture technology in the rapid propagation of elite date palm cultivars and its potential to support the recovery of Iraq’s date palm sector. The research demonstrated that tissue culture techniques, specifically somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis, can produce uniform and healthy date palm plantlets, ensuring high propagation rates and genetic fidelity. Additionally, successful acclimatization rates were achieved, indicating the viability of large-scale production. This work provides the first systematic evaluation of tissue culture application for Iraqi date palm cultivars, addressing technical and operational constraints in local laboratories. The findings highlight the potential of biotechnology to revolutionize date palm propagation in Iraq, offering a sustainable solution for germplasm conservation, cultivar improvement, and re-establishment of Iraq’s leadership in date production.