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Phyllotaxis and handedness in date palm (Phœnix dactylifera L.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 January 2003

Mohammed Aziz Elhoumaizi ,
René Lecoustre  and
Abedllah Oihabi
Mohammed Aziz Elhoumaizi
Affiliation:
University Mohammed 1st, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, BP 724 Oujda 60 000, Morocco
René Lecoustre
Affiliation:
Cirad-amis, UMRA-AMAP, Avenue la lironde, PS2 / TA 40, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
Abedllah Oihabi
Affiliation:
University Cadi-Ayyad, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Department of Biology, BP 2390, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
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Abstract

Introduction. The present study had as objectives to measure the palm leaf divergence angle in the field, to determine the frequency of trees and offshoots showing clockwise and counterclockwise phyllotaxis, to establish the relationship between phyllotaxis of the mother tree and that of its offshoots, and, finally, to determine the effect of the divergence angle value on production. Materials and methods. The vegetal material was composed of four Moroccan cultivars of Phœnix dactylifera L. Observations were conducted in the south of Morocco on 20 trees per cultivar and four offshoots per tree. The divergence angle was measured on adult trees whereas phyllotaxic direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) was noted for both offshoots and adult trees. Results and discussion. This study showed that the phyllotaxic direction of the offshoots presents a clockwise or counterclockwise phyllotaxis independently of the mother plant. The divergence angle varied depending on the cultivar. This character is an interesting criterion, both for the selection of the best adapted cultivars for the marginal date palm growing regions, and for an optimal production.

Keywords

MoroccoPhoenix dactyliferaphyllotaxyMarocPhoenix dactyliferaphyllotaxie
Type
Research Article
Information
Fruits , Volume 57 , Issue 5-6 , September 2002 , pp. 297 - 303
Copyright
© CIRAD, EDP Sciences

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