SpringerLink
Log in

Use of microsatellite markers for sex determination in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. Medjool

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a dioecious plant, and its sexual characteristics remain indiscernible until it reaches the reproductive stage, typically between 4 and 5 years of age. The Medjool variety is widely grown in Palestine and the neighboring regions. Early identification of male and female seedlings could significantly benefit date palm cultivation and breeding efforts. This study aimed to confirm the effectiveness of microsatellite markers in distinguishing between male and female date palms within the cv. Medjool variety. Out of eight microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers used, four markers (mPdCIR015, mPdCIR035, mPdCIR078 and mPdCIR093) were able to determine the sex of the date palm tree (cv. Medjool) at an early stage. Practically, a combination of any of these two SSR markers could be used to determine the sex of date palm at seedling stage cv. Medjool. mPdCIR010 and mPdCIR093 produced male specific bands (325 bp) and (156 bp) respectively. On the other side, mPdCIR015 and mPdCIR078 produced unique female bands (160 and 128 bp), respectively. 15 loci were identified, averaging 2.1 loci per primer. SSR markers were able to provide a reliable technique for sex determination in date palm (cv. Medjool) at an early stage. The utilization of SSR markers will not only advance but also facilitate the establishment of a commercial date palm cultivation through the breeding program in Palestine and the surrounding region. Primer mPdCIR035 (325 bp) and mPdCIR093 (156 bp) occurred in all date palm male samples and absent in all female samples indicates a promising candidate markers to detect the sex in date palm seedlings at early stage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price includes VAT (Germany)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

All data and materials of the study have been presented in the main manuscript.

Abbreviations

RAPD:

Random amplified polymorphic DNA

ISSR:

Inter simple sequence repeats

SCAR:

Sequence characterized amplified region

SSR:

Simple sequence repeat

SNPs:

Single nucleotide polymorphisms

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

PCBS:

Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics

MoA:

Ministry of Agriculture

References

  • Ahmed TA, Al-Qaradawi AY (2009) Molecular phylogeny of Qatari date palm genotypes using simple sequence repeats markers. Biotechnology 8(1):126–131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ainsworth C, Buchanan-Wollaston V (1997) 5 sex determination in plants. Curr Top Dev Biol 38(C):167–223

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Ameri AA, Al-Qurainy F, Gaafar ARZ, Khan S, Nadeem M (2016) Molecular identification of sex in phoenix dactylifera using inter simple sequence repeat markers. Biomed Res Int. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27419132/. Accessed 25 Oct 2023

  • Ali HBM, Abubakari A, Wiehle M, Krutovsky KV (2018) Gene-specific sex-linked genetic markers in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Genet Resour Crop Evol 65(1):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-017-0564-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Qurainy F, Al-Ameri AA, Khan S, Nadeem M, Gaafar ARZ, Tarroum M (2018) SCAR Marker for gender identification in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) at the seedling stage. Int J Genomics. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30417007/. Accessed 25 Oct 2023

  • Bekheet SA, Hanafy MS (2011) Towards sex determination of date palm. Date Palm Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-1318-5_26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bekheet SA, Taha HS, Solliman ME (2008) Morphogenesis of sexual embryos of date palm cultured in vitro and early identification of sex type. J Appl Sci Res 4(4):345–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben Abdallah H, Laajimi A, Guesmi F, Triki T, Ferchichi A, Hormaza JI et al (2020) Genetic diversity of endangered date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in the oases of Nefzaoua, Tunisia, using SSR markers. Fruits Int Soc Hortic Sci 75(2):84–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Billotte N, Marseillac N, Brottier P, Noyer JL, Jacquemoud-Collet JP, Moreau C et al (2004) Nuclear microsatellite markers for the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.): characterization and utility across the genus Phoenix and in other palm genera. Mol Ecol Notes 4(2):256–258. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-8286.2004.00634.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chao CCT, Krueger RR (2007) The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.): overview of biology, uses, and cultivation. HortScience 42(5):1077–1082

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherif E, Zehdi S, Castillo K, Chabrillange N, Abdoulkader S, Pintaud JC et al (2013) Male-specific DNA markers provide genetic evidence of an XY chromosome system, a recombination arrest and allow the tracing of paternal lineages in date palm. New Phytol 197(2):409–415

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhawan C, Kharb P, Sharma R, Uppal S, Aggarwal RK (2013) Development of male-specific SCAR marker in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Tree Genet Genomes 9(5):1143–1150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11295-013-0617-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Din Solliman M, Mohasseb HAA, Al-Khateeb AA, Al-Khateeb SA, Chowdhury K, El-Shemy HA et al (2019) Identification and sequencing of date-SRY gene: a novel tool for sex determination of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Saudi J Biol Sci 26(3):514–523

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elmeer K, Mattat I (2012) Marker-assisted sex differentiation indate palm using simple sequence repeats. 3 Biotech 2(3):241

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Elmeer K, Sarwath H, Malek J, Baum M, Hamwieh A (2011) New microsatellite markers for assessment of genetic diversity in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). 3 Biotech 1(2):91

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Royal Botanic Gardens K (1914) Bulletin of miscellaneous information. London: H.M. Stationery Office. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/43451. Accessed 25 Oct 2023

  • Intha N, Chaiprasart P (2018) Sex determination in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by PCR based marker analysis. Sci Hortic 236: 251–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.03.039.

  • Ismail O (2008) Identification of sex-specific DNA markers for date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) using RAPD and ISSR techniques. Res J Agric Biol Sci 4(4):278–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Juarez C, Banks JA (1998) Sex determination in plants. Curr Opin Plant Biol 1(1):68–72

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khankahdani HH, Bagheri A (2019) Identification of genetic variation of male and female date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars using morphological and molecular markers. J Hortic Sci 6(1):63–76

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kharb P, Mitra C (2017) Early sex identification in date palm by male-specific sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. Methods Mol Biol 1638:199–207

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Majourhat K, Bendiab K, Medraoui L, Baaziz M (2002) Diversity of leaf peroxidases in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) as revealed in an example of marginal (seedling derived) palm groves. Sci Hortic 95(1–2):31–38

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maryam JMJ, Awan FS, Ahmad S, Khan IA (2016) Development of molecular method for sex identification in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) plantlets using novel sex-linked microsatellite markers. Biotech 6(1):1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Mathew LS, Spannagl M, Al-Malki A, George B, Torres MF, Al-Dous EK et al (2014) A first genetic map of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) reveals long-range genome structure conservation in the palms. BMC Genomics 15(1):1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-15-285

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammed IA, Mohamed IA (2019) Validation of RAPD and ISSR markers used for sex determination in date palm grown under sudan conditions. Adv Res Life Sci 3(1):17–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) [Internet]. https://www.moa.pna.ps/events/29. Accessed 25 Oct 2023

  • PCBS [Internet]. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/default.aspx. Accessed 25 Oct 2023

  • Qacif N, Baaziz M, Bendiab K (2007) Biochemical investigations on peroxidase contents of male and female inflorescences of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). Sci Hortic 114(4):298–301

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sallon S, Cherif E, Chabrillange N, Solowey E, Gros-Balthazard M, Ivorra S et al (2020) Origins and insights into the historic Judean date palm based on genetic analysis of germinated ancient seeds and morphometric studies. Sci Adv. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax0384

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Siljak-Yakovlev S, Benmalek S, Cerbah M, De La Peña TC, Bounaga N, Brown SC et al (1996) Chromosomal sex determination and heterochromatin structure in date palm. Sex Plant Reprod 9(3):127–132. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02221391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solliman MED, Elbarbary HS, Abdullah MB, Kapiel TYS, Aboul-Soud MAM, Mohasseb HAA (2023) Discovery of the human homolog of sex-determining region (SRY) gene in dioecious plants. Saudi J Biol Sci 30(2):103548

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torres AM, Tisserat B (1980) Leaf isozymes as genetic markers in date palms. Am J Bot 67(2):162

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Torres MF, Mathew LS, Ahmed I, Al-Azwani IK, Krueger R, Rivera-Nuñez D et al (2018) Genus-wide sequencing supports a two-locus model for sex-determination in Phoenix. Nat Commun 9(1):1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Ihase LO, Htwe YM, Shi P, Zhang D, Li D et al (2020) Development of sex-linked SSR marker in the genus Phoenix and validation in P. dactylifera. Crop Sci 60(5):2452–2466. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zaid A, Arias-Jiménez EJ (2002) Chapter VII: DATE PALM IRRIGATION. Date Palm Cultiv. [Internet]. Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. https://www.fao.org/3/Y4360E/y4360e0b.htm. Accessed 25 Oct 2023

  • Zehdi S, Trifi M, Billotte N, Marrakchi M, Pintaud JC (2004) Genetic diversity of Tunisian date palms (Phoenixdactylifera L.) revealed by nuclear microsatellite polymprohism. Hereditas 141(3):278–287

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Basima Abu Rumaila for technical assistance.

Funding

This project was funded by Scientific Research Council- Ministry of Higher education and Scientific Research–Palestine. Project number: 1004.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agricultural Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Quds Open University, Ramallah, Palestine

    Aziz Salameh & Khaled Aslan

  2. Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Palestine Technical University-Kadoorie, P. O. Box 7, Tulkarm, Palestine

    Yamen A. S. Hamdan

Authors
  1. Aziz Salameh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yamen A. S. Hamdan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Khaled Aslan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

AS designed, carried out the study, and wrote the manuscript. YH designed, carried out the study and approved the final manuscript. KA assisted in the field work and data analysis.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aziz Salameh.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

The authors declare that the work has been consented for publication.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Salameh, A., Hamdan, Y.A.S. & Aslan, K. Use of microsatellite markers for sex determination in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. Medjool. Genet Resour Crop Evol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-024-01880-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-024-01880-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation