Project's Immediate Objectives, Outputs and Activities

Outputs

1.1

Output 1:

A functional and sustainable Tissue Culture Laboratory.

1.1.1

Assess and improve the actual function conditions of the laboratory with regard to the production line, rate of multiplication, varieties introduced, equipment and personnel.

1.1.2

Study phase by phase the multiplication and aseptic processes in the laboratory.

1.1.3

Develop a long term coordinated research and production program in the field of date palm propagation and development.

1.1.4

Plan and conduct on site training for the laboratory personnel.

1.1.5

Advise national staff and date growers on the correct and modern nursery practices for date palm hardening.

1.2

Output 2:

Mass-propagation of selected best date varieties.

1.2.1

Improve and/or establish the protocol for micro propagation techniques of superior selected varieties.

1.2.2

Introduction of various date varieties and selected cultivars to in vitro conditions.

1.2.3

Optimise per variety the multiplication process.

1.2.4

The Tissue Culture Laboratory - Al-Ain will be in charge of large scale multiplication of selected varieties to meet the national demand and avoid the use of undesirable imported material.

1.3

Output 3:

Hardening-off of all produced tissue culture date palm plants.

1.3.1

Assess the actual nursery with regard to equipment and itinerary of acclimatization.

1.3.2

Develop a hardening-off program of locally produced tissue culture plants of the best date varieties.

1.3.3

The Tissue Culture Laboratory will supply the date growers with the technical itinerary and how to care for the tissue culture-derived date plants.

Outputs

2.1

Output 1:

Four to six trained staff and manpower capable of operating the date palm tissue culture laboratory and carrying out research activities on date production and propagation.

 2.1.1

 A study tour of two weeks duration for the date palm project NPD and an officer from the Date Palm Research and Development Unit to advanced date tissue culture laboratories (France, Morocco & Namibia).

2.1.2

An official responsible for research at the Date Palm Research and Development Unit should undertake a two weeks study tour to date research and development centres in Morocco and Tunisia.

2.1.3

Annual demonstration and a national training course of one week duration on date palm micro propagation and production at UAE University.

2.1.4

Organize in-service training in the lab, the nursery and the field.

2.1.5

Organize meetings and seminars on in vitro propagation and production of date palm.

2.1.6

Present an annual graduate course of 20 hours duration on plant tissue culture:  Agricultural applications (UAE University); lab sessions are also to be conducted.

2.1.7

Present an annual graduate course of 10 hours duration on Date Palm Tissue Culture (UAE University).  Specialized lab sessions are also to be conducted.

2.1.8

Supervise, Advise and co-advise post graduate research subjects (Master and Ph-D levels) in the field of date palm micro propagation and production.  Annex 2 presents a list of potential subjects.

2.1.9

Supervise and conduct the planned research according to the research and development Unit’s workplan.

2.2

Output 2:

A developed specialized library capable of disseminating information and results of the Date Palm Research and Development Unit.

 2.2.1

 Develop a specialized library, technical documents, production of technical leaflets and field reports.

2.2.2

Initiate the editing of a national document on the “Date Palm Research & Development Activities conducted in UAE”.

2.2.3

Arrange cooperation and scientific exchange between the Unit and other institutions in the world that have common interest.