Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran

The Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII) has initiated a nationwide research and extension project aimed at promoting the tissue culture of Medjool date palms. This project focuses on four key regions in Iran: Jiroft, Bam, Jahrom, Dashtestan, and Qasr-e Shirin.

The project, being implemented in four Iranian provinces, seeks to assess the economic viability and practical applications of tissue culture-propagated Medjool date palms. Dr. Reza Zarghami, a faculty member at ABRII, emphasized the project's significance in fostering innovation and improving agricultural practices. By focusing on applied research and knowledge transfer, the project seeks to bridge the gap between research findings and real-world implementation.

Medjool date palms, renowned for their superior quality and economic value, are particularly well-suited for cultivation in specific regions of Iran. Tissue culture techniques offer significant advantages over traditional propagation methods, including faster growth rates, disease resistance, and the ability to produce large numbers of genetically identical plants.

The project is expected to contribute to the sustainable development of the date palm industry in Iran by providing date farmers with access to high-quality planting material and promoting the adoption of modern agricultural practices.

It is worth mentioning that the technical knowledge of Medjool date palm propagation through somatic embryogenesis has successfully been transferred from ABRII to the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Baluchestan.