Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt Science Department, Faculty of Basic Education, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Adailiya 73251, Kuwait
2
Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt
Abstract
The present study focuses on characterization of an important salt tolerant species, the date palm
(Phoenix dactylifera L.) genetic resources growing naturally at delta of Wadi El-Gemal, one of the
main protectorates at Red Sea coastal area, Egypt. Five sites were selected at date palm grove
dominating the delta for soil and plant sampling and field measurements. Particle size distribution, pH,
EC, and organic matter were analyzed in rhizosphere soils. Chloride, sodium, potassium, calcium, and
magnesium were analyzed in both surface soil samples and dried leaves of date palm. Statistical
evaluation of the obtained data showed significant variations in silt and clay content, EC, and available
content of Cl-, Na+, K+, and Ca2+ between different sites. Soils of W. El-Gemal delta are strongly saline
with highly significant variation between different sites (EC= 62.98 ± 31.97 dS m-1). Accumulation of
certain ions in date palm leaves was highly correlated with soil ions. The high accumulation of Na+ and
Cl- may serve as useful mechanism for providing osmotic solutes to enable the date palm to be the
most salt tolerant fruit species. The high salinity tolerance of the date palm tree makes it a good model
for saline soil reclamations. The Delta of W. El-Gemal holds an important wild relative of date palm
and the authors recommend that this delta should have a special concern within the protectorate as an
important hot spot for in situ conservation of date palm genetic resources.
Keywords
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