Diversity in seed characters for morphological characterization of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) varieties

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera l.; Family: arecaceae) is a fruit tree suitable for dry and hot climatic conditions. the ripe fruits (doka or khalal) are used for fresh consumption and value addition. In India, date palm fruits are harvested during mid June to July at doka or khalal stage (hard ripe yellow, red or dark red colour) of maturity because of early rains. In many date growing countries, seed is an agricultural waste and used for several purposes. Besides raising saplings, its seed are used as feed additive for African catfish, oil extraction, cattle's feed and porus carbon preparation. Date fruit seeds comprise 6–12 per cent of total weight in Tamer stage fruit depending upon variety and quality grade. the plants are raised through suckers, seeds, and tissue culture in date palm and variations in seeds (stones) were observed. the diversity with respect to stone weight, size, shape, colour and presence of ridges and groove were observed in date palm seeds. the seeds were collected at doka stage of maturity of fruits during 2016 from date palm germplasm repository for study. In general large, medium and small size seeds were grouped in date palm genotypes. Variation in groove like shallow, medium and deep was also noticed. In some cultivars, ridges on the seeds were also present. A significant difference in weight and size of seeds were observed in date palm genotypes. the study revealed that genetic diversity exit in seeds of date palm. a wide range of diversity was observed in seeds for morphological characterization of date palm genotypes.