Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Date Palm Status and Perspective in Pakistan

  • Chapter
Date Palm Genetic Resources and Utilization

Abstract

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is the third most important fruit crop after citrus and mango in Pakistan. This crop is found in all four provinces of Pakistan on 90,000 ha with a production of around 600,000 mt yr−1. Pakistan’s position is always among the seven largest producers and exporters of dates in the world. Sindh and Balochistan provinces contribute more than 90 % of production and crop area in Pakistan. In Sindh, Khairpur is the biodiversity center having more than 300 date palm cultivars. Date palm has a very strong effect on socioeconomic activities of the area. The top Pakistani cultivars are Aseel, Dhakki, Begum Jangi, Rabai, and Muzawati. Pakistani date fruit is being exported as fresh, dry, or chohara. Most date-processing factories in Pakistan are located in Khairpur. This chapter provides basic information describing date palm cultivation in Pakistan, major flood-affected date palms and fruit, protection from monsoon rains, the first commercial trial for date palm micropropagation using inflorescence explants at the Date Palm Research Institute (DPRI) at Khairpur, and major date palm problems generally in Pakistan, including diseases and pests, with emphasis on the Khairpur and Balochistan areas, and date fruit drying through the use of solar dryers.

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

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abdul Wahid LAH, Abbas MF, Abbas KA et al (2010) Effect of pollen parent on protein pattern during growth and ripening of date palm fruit Hellawi cv. Egypt J Hortic 37(2):133–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Abdul-Salam M, Al-Mazrooei S (2007) Crop water and irrigation water requirements of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) in the loamy sands of Kuwait. Acta Hortic 736:309–315

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA (2010) Impact of rain fall and floods on the fruit and trees of date palm in Pakistan. Bless Tree 2(4):56–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA (2011a) Date palm in Pakistan, current status and prospective. Report USAID Pakistan

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA (2011b) Micropropagation of date palm using inflorescence explants. In: Jain SM, Al-Khayri JM, Johnson DV (eds) Date palm biotechnology. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 91–118

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA (2012a) Influence of inflorescence explant age and 2,4-D incubation period on somatic embryogenesis of date palm. Emir J Food Agric 24(5):434–443

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA (2012b) The mechanisms of dates market in Pakistan. Bless Tree 4(1):60–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA (2013a) Standard operation protocol (SOP) of the solar dryer. Report, USAID Firms Project, Karachi

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA (2013b) Current status and perspective of date palm in Pakistan. International conference on date palm: present status & future prospects. Islamia University Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 2–3 Sept 2013, p 1

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA, Mahdi SM (2010) Commercial production of tissue culture date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by inflorescence technique. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 8(2):39–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA, Mahdi SM (2012) Micropropagation of date palm males and females. Bless Tree 4(2):80–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA, Zaid ZE, Sidky R (2006) Improved method for the micropropagation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) through elongation and rooting stages. Bull Fac Agric Cairo Univ 57:791–801

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA, El-Sherbeny NR, Baker SI (2007) Effect of basal salts and sucrose concentrations on morphogenesis in test tubes of female inflorescence of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. Zaghloul. Egypt J Agric Res 85(1B):385–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA, Mounir A, Amar M et al (2008) Date palm: field operations and pests and diseases. ISBN: 977-302-198-X. http://www.caae-eg.com

  • Abul-Soad AA, Markhand GS, Shah SA (2009) Study on potential impact of lowering of groundwater on date palm plantations, Final report, Hagler Bailly Pakistan (Pvt.) Ltd. 39, Street 3, E7, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA, Markhand GS, Memon S (2010) DuPont Tyvek® bags impact on dates. Final report. DuPont Pakistan Operations (Pvt.) Ltd., 2G-4, Johar Town, Canal Bank Road, Lahor-54790, Pakistan

    Google Scholar 

  • Abul-Soad AA, Maitlo WA, Markhand GS et al (2011) Date palm wilt disease (sudden decline syndrome) in Pakistan, symptoms and remedy. Bless Tree 3(4):38–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad S, Smead PF (2005) Dates in Pakistan. In: Ahmad S (ed) Date palm. Horticulture Foundation of Pakistan, Islamabad, and Pakistan Science Foundation, Islamabad, pp 71–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad S, Tahir A (2005) Dates culture. In: Ahmad S (ed) Date palm. Horticulture Foundation of Pakistan, Islamabad, and Pakistan Science Foundation, Islamabad, pp 41–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad F, Hameed M, Abbas S et al (2013) Comparative anatomical studies in some date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars from diverse origin. International conference on date palm: present status & future prospects, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 2–3 Sept 2013, p 38

    Google Scholar 

  • Al Awadhi HA, Hanif A, Suleman P et al (2002) Molecular and microscopical detection of Phytoplasma associated with yellowing disease of date palm Phoenix dactylifera L. in Kuwait. Kuwait J Sci Eng 29:87–109

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alamoud AI, Mhohammad FS, Al-Hamed SA et al (2012) Reference evapotranspiration and date palm water use in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Int Res J Agric Sci Soil Sci 2(4):155–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Ammar MI, Amer MA, Rashed MF (2005) Detection of phytoplasma associated with yellow streak disease of date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in Egypt. Egypt J Virol 2:74–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Ata S, Shahbaz B, Ahmad M et al (2012) Factors hampering date palm production in the Punjab: a case study of D.G. Khan District. Pak J Agric Sci 49(2):217–220

    Google Scholar 

  • Barreveld WH (1993) Date palm products, vol 101, FAO agricultural services bulletin. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartelt RJ, Dowd PF, Plattner RD et al (1990) Aggregation pheromone of dried fruit beetle, Carpophilus hemipterus. J Chem Ecol 16(4):1015–1039

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beech M (2003) Archaeological evidence for early date consumption in the Arabian Gulf. In: The date palm: from traditional resource to green wealth. Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research, Abu Dhabi, pp 11–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhat NR, Bhat VS, Lekha MK et al (2012) Estimation of water requirements for young date palms under arid climatic conditions of Kuwait. World J Agric Sci 8(5):448–452

    Google Scholar 

  • Dhillon BS, Tyaagi RK, Saxena S et al (2005) Plant genetic resources: horticultural crops. Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi, pp 174–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Djerbi M (1982) Bayoud disease in North Africa, history, distribution, diagnosis and control. Date Palm J 1:153–197

    Google Scholar 

  • El Baali E, Azouggagh M, Ahl Rchid O (2002) Water pumping for irrigation in a southern Moroccan oasis. International research on food security, natural resource management and rural development, 9–11 Oct, Proceeding Deutscher Tropentag, Kassel-Witzenhausen, p 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Galeb HH, Mawlood EA, Abbass MJ et al (1987) Effect of different pollinators on fruit set and yield of Sayer and Hallawy date palm cultivars under Basrah conditions. Date Palm J 5(2):155–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Hussain I, Rashid H, Muhammad A et al (1995) In vitro multiplication of date palm. Pak J Bot 27(1):101–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Imranullah, Abdul Qayum (2013) Physico-chemical characterization of fruit of six date palm cultivars during various maturity stages. International conference on date palm: present status & future prospects, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 2–3 Sept, p 14

    Google Scholar 

  • Jatoi MA, Solangi N, Markhand Z (2010) Dates in Sindh: facts and figures. In: Markhand GS, Abul-Soad AA (eds) Proceedings international dates seminar, 28 July 2009, Khairpur, p 59–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan S, Bibi T (2012) Direct shoot regeneration system for date palm (Phoenix dactylifera l.) Cv. Dhakki as a means of micropropagation. Pak J Bot 44(6):1965–1971

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan NM, Akram M, Amanullah et al (2009) Impact of education on diffusion of dates palm orchards in Northwest Pakistan. Sarhad J Agric 25(3):495–500

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan A, Khan IA, Azim MK (2012) The chloroplast Genome sequence of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L. cv. ‘Aseel’). Plant Mol Biol Rep 30:666–678

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar RJ (2009) New interpretations on Indus Valley Civilization. All Right Publishers, Chennai

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahar AQ (2007) Post-harvest studies of different cultivars of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits, their protection, identification, processing and preservation at district Khairpur, Sindh. PhD thesis, Date Palm Research Institute, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh

    Google Scholar 

  • Maitlo WA, Markhand GS, Abul-Soad AA et al (2013) Chemical control of sudden decline disease of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera l.) in Sindh, Pakistan. Pak J Bot 45(S1):7–11

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Markhand GS, Abdul RM, Abul-Soad AA et al (2008) Effect of fruit thinning on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. Aseel. Hortic Sci 43(4):1142

    Google Scholar 

  • Markhand GS, Abul-Soad AA, Mirbahar AA et al (2010) Fruit characterization of Pakistani dates. Pak J Bot 42(6):3715–3722

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshal J (1931) Mohenjo-Daro and the Indus civilization. Reprint 2004, AES Publications Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Marwat SK, Usman K, Khan EA et al (2012) Ethnobotanical studies on dwarf palm (Nannorhops ritchieana (Griff.) Aitchison) and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan. Am J Plant Sci 3:1162–1168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maryam, Jaskani MJ, Fatima B et al (2013) Evaluation of pollen viability in date palm cultivars under different storage temperatures. International conference on date palm: present status & future prospects, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 2–3 Sept 2013, p 9

    Google Scholar 

  • Mertia RS, Birbal, Kumawat RN (2010) Performance and field management of six prominent cultivars of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in extreme arid regions of Thar Desert, India. Acta Hortic 882:65–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Milne D (1918) The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) and its cultivation in the Punjab. Thacker, Spink and Co., Calcutta

    Google Scholar 

  • Mirbahar AA, Markhand GS, Khan S et al (2013) Genetic diversity analysis among important date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars from Pakistan using ISSR markers. International conference on date palm: present status & future prospects, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 2–3 Sept, p 26

    Google Scholar 

  • Mirbahar AA, Markhand GS, Khan S et al (2014) Molecular characterization of Pakistani date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars. Pak J Bot 46(2):619–625

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadeem M, Salim-ur-Rehman, Anjum FM et al (2011a) Anti-nutritional factors in some date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) varieties grown in Pakistan. Int J Food Safety 13:386–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadeem M, Salim-ur-Rehman, Anjum FM et al (2011b) Textural profile analysis and phenolic content of some date palm varieties. J Agric Res 49(4):525–539

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadia, Aish M, Muhammad ZH (2013) Morphological and genetic diversity analysis of date palm cultivars of Pakistan. International conference on date palm: present status & future prospects, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 2–3 Sept, pp 27–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Nixon RW (1951) Fruit thinning experiments with the Medjhool and Barhee varieties of dates. Date Grs Inst Ann Rep 28:14–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Nixon RW, Carpenter JB (1978) Growing dates in the United States. Agriculture information bulletin no. 207. USDA, Washington, DC, Technical Document 63

    Google Scholar 

  • Pakistan Statistical Year Book (2012) Statistics Division, Government of Pakistan, Agricultural Department, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasha SA, Hussain A, Gajani IB (1972) Date palm of Sindh. Punjab Fruit J 33(4):9–14

    Google Scholar 

  • PHDEC (2008) Dates marketing strategy. Pakistan Horticulture Development Export Company, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Pakistan. www.phdeb.org.pk

  • Popenoe PB (1913) Date growing in the old world and the new. West India Gardens, Altadena

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Qasim M, Naqvi SA (2012) A fruit from heaven. In: Manickavasagan A, Essa MM, Sukumar E (eds) Dates: production, processing, food, and medicinal values, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, pp 341–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Rashid H, Quraishi A (1994) Micropropagation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cv. Dhakki through tissue culture. Pak J Agric 15(1):1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Saleh A (2012) Effect of sunning as post harvest treatment for insect pests on antioxidants and physicochemical properties of date fruit. Am J Food Technol 7:715–725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shah A, Ata-ul-Mohsin, Naeem M et al (2012) Biology of Dubas Bug, Ommatissus lybicus (Homoptera: Tropiduchidae), a pest on date palm during spring and summer seasons in Panjgur, Pakistan. Pak J Zool 44(6):1603–1611

    Google Scholar 

  • Shar MU, Rustmani MA, Nizamani SM et al (2012) Evaluation of different date palm varieties and pheromone traps against red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) in Sindh. J Basic Appl Sci 8:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • SLUBGH (2013) Temperature and humidity for the month of August 2010–13. E-Talk Newsletter, Published by SAL University, Khairpur, Sindh 6(8):11

    Google Scholar 

  • SMEDA (2009) Pre-feasibility study, dates processing plant. Small Medium Enterprise Development Authority, Government of Pakistan, 6th Floor, LDA Plaza, Egerton Road, Lahore, Pakistan

    Google Scholar 

  • Smilanick JM, Ehler LE, Birch ME (1978) Attraction of Carpophilus sp. to volatile compounds of figs. J Chem Ecol 4:700–701

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO Statistics Division (2013) Production, harvested area, import and export of dates in Pakistan in 2011. http://faostat.fao.org

  • Thomas DL (1974) Possible link between declining palm species and lethal yellowing of coconut palms. Proc Fla State Hortic Soc 87:502–504

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang M, Zhang X, Liu G et al (2010) The complete chloroplast genome sequence of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). PLoS One 5:e12762

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zaid A, de Wet PF (2002) Pollination and bunch management. Chapter 8 In: Zaid A (ed) Date palm cultivation. FAO, plant production and protection, vol 156, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Zangejo KM, Abul-Soad AA, Markhand GS (2013) Setting standards for processed dates in Sindh. MSc thesis, Botany Department, Faculty of Sciences, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to express their deep thanks to the DPRI, SAL Univ., Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan, and the whole work team for their sincere efforts and kind contribution during the writing of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botany Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, 9 Cairo University St., Orman, Giza, 12619, Egypt

    Adel A. Abul-Soad

  2. Tropical Fruit Department, Central Agricultural Pesticides Laboratory (CAPL), Agricultural Research Center, Al Giza, Egypt

    Shaimaa M. Mahdi

  3. Bioassay Department, Date Palm Research Institute (DPRI), Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan

    Ghulam S. Markhand

Authors
  1. Adel A. Abul-Soad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shaimaa M. Mahdi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ghulam S. Markhand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adel A. Abul-Soad .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, King Faisal University, Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia

    Jameel M. Al-Khayri

  2. Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Shri Mohan Jain

  3. Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

    Dennis V. Johnson

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Abul-Soad, A.A., Mahdi, S.M., Markhand, G.S. (2015). Date Palm Status and Perspective in Pakistan. In: Al-Khayri, J., Jain, S., Johnson, D. (eds) Date Palm Genetic Resources and Utilization. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9707-8_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation