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The amazing male date palm

AL AIN — Scientists at the Date Palm Research and Development Programme of the UAE University have succeeded in raising a male date palm plant called "Al Ain City Male," a very scarce plant which starts flowering in just 13 months.

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By Lana Mahdi

Published: Sun 20 Mar 2005, 9:08 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 8:21 PM

The Al Ain City male date palm tree has the distinction of carrying 97.5 per cent pollen compared to 75 per cent in other date palm males.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Dr Abdulwahab Zaied, Chief Technical Adviser of the UNDP to the UAE Date Palm Research and Development Programme, said the amazing tree was grown in the palace of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and it produces an excellent date quality named Dijlat Nour which was imported from Tunisia in 1978.

The project is a joint collaboration between the UAE University and the UN Development Programme. Dr Hilal Al Ka'aby, National Director of the project, said the success in raising the tree was all the more noteworthy since laboratories around the world had tried in vain to do it. The Date Palm Research and Development Programme aims at supporting the growth of date palm commercially in the UAE by developing facilities and offering research and expertise in this specialised area which is of national interest.

Lana Mahdi

Published: Sun 20 Mar 2005, 9:08 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 8:21 PM

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