Date-Palm researchers perform many experiments on Date-Palm in order to understand its physiology and improve Date-Palms' yield and/or quality. Date-Palms will respond to cultural practices or experimental treatments through changing the Date-Palms' genome expression. In order to help Date-Palm researchers understand the Date-Palm physiology and metabolism we developed a novel Date-Palm Genome Array®.
The Date-Palm Genome Array® is designed specifically to monitor gene expression in Date-Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). This array was created in collaboration with leading Date-Palm researchers. The array contains probes sets representing up to 43603 Date-Palm's genes' transcripts based on EST sequences obtained from several Date-Palm cultivars. This includes 4145 novel Date-Palm genes whose function and/or description have never been mentioned before in gene banks.
Because Date-Palm has relatively long generations and times-to-production, it will be especially useful for researchers to identify the genetic mechanisms critical to:
- High crop yield.
- Disease and insect resistance.
- Growth response to environmental factors.
The Date-Palm Genome Array® provides a tool that enables researchers to elucidate these complex genetic traits in Date-Palm to determine how crop production can be improved. The array includes 46 probe sets representing several Date-Palm pathogens, and 60 probe sets representing various reporters, selectable markers, and transgenes. The Date-Palm Genome Array® was designed in close collaboration with the Date-Palm Research Community. It is produced for research use only and not for use in diagnostic procedures.
