The study of morpho-anatomical aspects, metabolic changes of proteins, antioxidant substances, as well as phenolic compounds in embryogenic callus (EC) and degenerative embryogenic callus (DEC) was the aim of the present investigation. Ability to form somatic embryos (SEs) was associated with the softness of the EC, which exhibited a white or creamy color and was composed of isodiametric cells containing dense cytoplasm, conspicuous nuclei and minimal vacuoles with observed mitotic activity. Furthermore, protein, reduced glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (ASC) concentrations and the ratio between ASC and dehydroascorborbic acid (DHA) were increased significantly in the EC in comparison to the DEC. In addition, the phenolic extract of the EC was proved to have higher scavenging activity than the extract from the DEC. A loss of embryogenic competence in the DEC was correlated with the presence of more rigid clumps and such calli had a yellowish to brown color and no cell division could be observed in the cells of such aggregates as the cells had large vacuoles and they have very thick walls. Moreover, these morphological and anatomical observations of the DEC were accompanied by accumulations of the oxidized form of ascorbic acid (DHA), H2O2, total soluble phenolic compounds and overaccumulation of naringenin. Alternations in cellular metabolism can affect and regulate the morphogenesis of somatic embryos.

Pollination is a critical process in date palms production series that affect yield and fruit quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different pollination methods (spray pollen grain with zinc, boric or ascorbic acid solution) on yield and fruit quality of Barhy date palm. This study was conducted at Kom Ombo, Aswan Governorate, Egypt during 2019 and 2020 seasons.Results showed that most beneficial treatment in this concern is spraying female spathes with 0.5 to 1 g pollen grains plus 1 g zinc or ascorbic acid/L water which gave economical yield with good fruit quality. Moreover, it distinguished to save time, effort, labor, cost and more practical to it is a promising technique in the future.

Date palm plantlets produced in vitro using tissue culture technique in a greenhouse face a great challenge that may lead to their death due to different ambient environmental conditions, moreover the slow growth rate of the survived tissue culture derived date palm plants during acclimatization are critical problems facing the tissue culture as a commercial technique of date palm propagation. Therefore, the success of date palm micropropagation is strongly linked to the success and quality of plantlets in the greenhouse. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three different cultural systems on survival percentage, plant length, number of leaves and estimation photosynthetic pigments in greenhouse in the first experience as well as effect of foliar spray and watered three concentrations of Sorbitol (0, 15, 30 and 45 g l -1 ) and salicylic acid at concentrations (0, 20, 40 and 60 mg l -1 ) on some vegetative growth parameters such as survival percentage, leaf width and growth vigor in the secondary experience. Findings indicated that using both the hydroponic (first culture system) and the traditional systems, with the addition of Barbary-Plante (third culture system) during the acclimatization stage gave highest values of survival percentage, plant length, number of leaves and chlorophyll a+b content compared to the second culture system, where the lowest values were recorded. Also spraying and irrigation with sorbitol at 30 gl -1 plus salicylic acid at 40 mg l -1 giving the highest values of survival percentage, leaf width and growth vigor (91%, 2.73 cm, 4, respectively) compared to other treatments.