Identification of Late Maturing and Rain Tolerant Promising Genotype in Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in Hot Arid Region

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is most suitable drought hardy fruit tree of hot arid region of the country. Date palm fruits are harvested in our country at doka (khalal) stage due to early rains. Normally date palm fruits get spoiled by rains at maturity stage. With this objective, work on the identification of rain tolerant and late maturing genotype in date palm was carried out at ICAR-CIAH, Bikaner. On the basis of 5 years of evaluation study (2015-2019), one elite genotype (CIAH/DP/Sel.-01) of red color berry with average 45 to 50 kg fruit yield/tree was marked promising and fruits harvested at doka stage at the end of August and first week of September. Since the fruits were harvested after rainy season, they did not show any damage by rain. The length of bunch is about bigger in size (80-95 cm.), bunch weight 4 to 6 kg.; number of bunch 9-12; no. of berries/strands 24-28; fruit size 3.20 x 2.20 cm.; fruit weight 9 to 12 g and TSS 34- 38 0 brix,. The IC number 0624544 was obtained from NBPGR, New Delhi for specific traits. The fruit is red in color, sweet in taste and edible at the doka stage. Besides fresh consumption, it can be used for making value added products. The promising genotype would be source of gene for further breeding programme.