Phoenix dactylifera (Date Palm) from seed

Pits of dried, commercially available dates (Phoenix dactylifera) were removed from the flesh and air dried for several weeks. They were subsequently soaked for 24 h in tap water, followed by a 12 h soak in a 1800 ppm solution of gibberellic acid (GA₃) in tap water, a 6 h soak in a 40 ppm solution of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in tap water [1] and a 12 h soak in diluted nettle tea [2]. All solutions were maintained at 35 ℃. The seeds were placed in a folded, water moistened paper towel which was place in a loosly closed polyethylene (PE) bag and stored at room temperature. Most seeds sprouted within two weeks and were planted in coconut coir.

Footnotes

1. The IBA solution was prepared by suspending 20 g/kg of a commercial rooting hormone powder, containing 0.2 % IBA in talcum, in tap water. The suspension was thoroughly agitated to desolve the IBA and decanted before use.
2. Nettle tea was prepared by boiling young Urtica dioica (Stinging Nettle) in tap water. The obtained extract was cooled to room temperature and dilluted 1:10 with tap water.

References

• Sallon, S., et al. “Germination, Genetics, and Growth of an Ancient Date Seed.” Science, vol. 320, no. 5882, 13 June 2008, pp. 1464–1464., doi:10.1126/science.1153600.