S. Jain – Date Palm Genetic Resources and Utilization (2 Volume set, 2015)

Автор: S. Jain
Название книги: Date Palm Genetic Resources and Utilization (2 Volume set)
Формат: PDF
Жанр: Биологические науки
Страницы: 1112
Качество: Изначально компьютерное, E-book

This important 2-volume reference book is the first comprehensive resource reflecting the current global status and prospects of date palm cultivation by country. This volume covers Africa and the Americas. Countries included are: Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Niger, Cameroon, Djibouti, Chad, Mali Somalia, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Senegal, as well as the United States of America and the South American countries Chile and Peru. Topics discussed are: cultivation practices; genetic resources and breeding; conservation and germplasm banks; cultivar classification and identification based on morphological and molecular markers; micropropagation and progress toward scale-up production; and advances in dates processing and marketing. Chapters are supported by tables and color photographs. Appendixes summarize traits and distribution of major cultivars, commercial resources of offshoots and in vitro plants; and institutions and scientific societies concerned with date palm.

Date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) trees bear edible fruits under adverse conditions
of high temperature, limited water resources and high soil and water salinity. Dates
have contributed to the emergence and survival of ancient societies in desert regions
worldwide. Now they are being rediscovered as a nutritional health food due to richness
in fructose, a low glycemic index sugar, vitamins and dietary fi bers. Dates have
diverse medicinal properties due to high content of phytochemicals including carotenoids,
polyphenols (e.g. isofl avons, lignans and fl avonoids), tannins and sterols.
These compounds are known for antioxidant activity, cholesterol-lowering properties
and chemoprevention of cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
Date palm plantations worldwide are estimated to have over 150 million trees,
distributed between 10° and 39°N Lat. but thrive mostly between 24° and 34°N Lat.
in the Middle East and North Africa. Date production has steadily increased from
(in thousands) 2,535 mt in 1980 to 7,549 mt in 2012 (FAOSTAT database apps.fao.
org). Although modern agricultural practices have contributed to increase in production,
expansion in agricultural land and utilization of natural resources has
played an important role. Sustainable date palm cultivation in the twenty-fi rst century
will require implementation of a set of principles drawn from existing research
results and farm-level experiences. Despite the existing body of research, realization
of the full potential of the date palm is being hindered by the lack of comprehensive
studies of key areas: (a) Comprehensive assessment of date palm genetic
resources and their conservation, including the role of seedling palms; (b) Broad
evaluation and identifi cation of cultivars and the role of DNA fi ngerprinting; (c)
Development of a set of best-cultivation practices to enhance yield and reduce postharvest
loss for both monoculture and mixed oasis farming systems; (d) Conservation
and utilization of germplasm resources and agroforestry in light of climate change;
(e) Appraisal of the role of tissue culture according to the scale of production; and
(f) Evaluation of date palm products and marketing. This book fi lls the gaps in the
preceding key areas for major date-producing countries worldwide. It provides an
assessment of how to achieve these key principles across the date-producing countries
with reference to the local environmental conditions and socioeconomic
practices.
The book is published in two separate volumes; each consists of 15 chapters.
Volume 1 addresses date-producing countries within Africa, North America and
South America, whereas, Volume 2 pertains to Asia and Europe. Volume 1 begins
with an introductory chapter highlighting modern scientifi c discoveries and the main
book features. The second chapter discusses biodiversity of genetic resources of date
palm in the world. Chapters 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , and 13 provide an assessment
specifi c to individual date-producing countries of Africa and the Americas. The
African countries covered are: Egypt, Algeria, Sudan, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco,
Mauritania, Niger, Cameroon, Djibouti, Chad, Mali Somalia, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso
and Senegal. Chapters 14 and 15 cover the United States of America and the South
American countries Chile and Peru. The African countries Kenya and Namibia, as
well as Mexico in North America, are small date producers; however, they are not
included in this volume due to unavailability of authors. The volume ends with
appendixes summarizing available information on each country. The appendixes
provide surveys of characteristics and distribution of major date palm cultivars, commercial
sources of dates, offshoots and in vitro plants; and research institutes and
scientifi c societies concerned with date palm research and production.
In this book volume, each chapter describes the current status and prospects on:
cultivation practices and agroforestry; genetic resources focusing on threats and
research progress in genetics, breeding, conservation, and germplasm banks; role
and importance of cultivar classifi cation and identifi cation based on morphological
and molecular techniques; importance of micropropagation technology and research
progress toward scale-up production; and advances in dates processing, novel products
and innovative utilizations and marketing. In addition, each chapter describes
the main characteristics of important date palm cultivars including growth requirements,
cultivar distribution shown in a country map, production statistics and economics,
nutritional aspects as well as morphological descriptors supported with
color photos. The chapter concludes with imperative recommendations for further
development of date palm sector in the respective country.
This volume presents, for the fi rst time, a comprehensive assessment of date
palm genetic resources and utilizations in date palm-growing countries of Africa
and the Americas. The book is a valuable resource for students, researchers, scientists,
commercial producers, consultants, and policymakers interested in agriculture
particularly in the date palm industry. Individuals and companies throughout the
date industry would benefi t greatly from the adoption of policies and practices discussed
in this book to enhance production and expand industrialization and marketing
of traditional and potentially new date products. The chapters were graciously
contributed by prominent scientists of each country; the exception is the Mauritanian
chapter which was written by a pronounced visiting scientist. All manuscripts were
critically reviewed and revised to ensure accuracy and quality. We greatly appreciate
all contributory authors for their contribution towards the success and quality of this
book. We are grateful to Springer for giving us an opportunity to compile this book.