The method of micropropagation used at Zemach Tissue Culture Laboratory is called Embryogenesis. Shoot-tips are taken from off shoots that grow on selected date palm trees. These are transferred aseptically onto a growth medium in closed flasks in the lab. At the first stage the shoot-tip tissue is induced to make Callus. Later, the medium is changed in order to induce the formation of ‘pro embryos' and than ‘somatic embryos'. Many of the embryos then develop into small plantlets, and ultimately into well-formed plantlets with about 10cm-long leaves, well-formed shoot and strong roots. These plantlets are now ready for acclimatization (gradual exposure to ambient conditions) outside the lab. During this stage the plants are rooted in pots, absorb water and nutrients and undergo photosynthesis. Further growth takes place in the nursery until final size is achieved and the plants are ready for field planting.

A Five Year Process

Date palm micropropagation is a slow process. The laboratory stage lasts about three years. The following acclimatization (hardening) and nursery growth stages will take another one to two years. The entire process from culture initiation until plants ready for field planting are obtained takes 4½ to 5 years. Some varieties are faster; others are slower. The propagation percentage, on the other hand, is extremely high: one source plant can propagate hundreds of “offspring”.

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