The status of the conservation of the date palm genetic resources (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in the
Northern region of Sudan was assessed through morphological characterisation of mature trees
on farm, by conducting interviewing farmers and by molecular analysis of samples collected
from the field.
The morphological characterisation was conducted on 116 date palm female farmers’ varieties
and 20 male farmers’ varieties in the districts River Nile and Northern States using 18 vegetative
and fruit characteristics (quantitative and qualitative). The results show that there are highly
significant differences among cultivars/farmers’ variety with regard to all investigated
characters.
The genetic diversity in the date palm farmers’ varieties, 63 females and 12 males, was analyzed
using microsatellite (SSR) loci. The investigated SSR markers exhibited a high level of
polymorphism. A total of 92 alleles, with an average of 13.1 alleles per locus, were detected at 7
loci. A high level of expected heterozygosity was recorded among farmers’ varieties from River
Nile., The value for the female and soft date palm farmers’ varieties were 0.804, 0.803 and
0.774, respectively.
To investigate the current status of existing on-farm date palm production regarding preferred
cultivars/farmers’ verities and threats facing the date palm culture, 215 date palm farmers were
interviewed in River Nile and Northern State. The results show that Barakawi is the most
preferred cultivar/farmers’ varieties while cvs. Um-dokan, Sakot, Berira, Sagaai and Kolmah
were the least. The results show that introduction of new varieties, novel diseases and some
socio-economic factors were the main problems facing date palm cultivation in the Northern
region of the Sudan.
The results of this study will contribute to the formulation of a national strategy for the
conservation and sustainable use of date palm genetic resources in Sudan. This study suggests
further studies to identify the origin of the seedling cultivars/farmers’ varieties (Jaw and males)
