CHARACTERIZATION OF 13 DATE-PALM (PHOENIX-DACTYLIFERA L) CULTIVARS BYENZYME ELECTROPHORESIS USING THE PHASTSYSTEM

The analysis of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) enzymatic polymorph ism enabled us to establish some reference <<identity cards>> for the cultivars studied. Thirteen cultivars and ten enzymatic systems were i nvestigated. Isozyme separation was performed with the PhastSystem (Ph armacia, Uppsala), an automated electrophoresis unit, allowing the sta ndardization of migration parameters. Various zymograms have been obta ined for five of the ten enzymes studied, showing differences in isozy me number, band intensities, and relative mobility values. We have fou nd six polymorphic loci, expressing thirteen different alleles. These variations are only caused by genetic differences among the cultivars, enabling us to assemble some of them and accurately distinguish nine (69%) of the thirteen cultivars studied.