ABSTRACT The propagation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.

) by seeds or using the conventional methods may be typically challenging because of slow and irregular germination process. In the present study, the seeds of Phoenix dactylifera var. Mariami were cultured on two different conditions; on the moist cotton wool (in vivo) and on the basal MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) media (in vitro). High germination percentages were observed whereby 91.89% for in vivo seedlings and 95.12% for in vitro seedlings. The contamination rate was high for in vitro (52.78%). The seeds started to germinate in 3 to 7 days for in vivo while for in vitro condition, the seeds took 5 to 11 days to germinate. The growth rate and development of root length of date palm for both conditions exhibited a sigmoid growth curve. The cytological studies on the seeds propagated date palm revealed that there were 36 chromosomes arranged in 18 bivalents of chromosomes in metaphase and there were no chromosomal changes occurred during primary root growth for in vivo and in vitro seedlings. The mitotic index (MI) was determined weekly, starting from the day of seed germinate until week 4 and the results were, 2.20%, 4.93%, 6.47%, and 7.43% for in vivo and 2.05%, 5.69%, 5.98% and 2.79% for in vitro. There were significant differences in cell sizes between in vivo and in vitro samples, whereas in vitro cells were larger than in vivo cells. The mean cell areas for in vivo was 374.48 m2 and the mean nuclear areas was 91.59 m2. Therefore, the ratio between mean nuclear to cell area for in vivo was 0.25. Meanwhile, the mean cell areas for in vitro was 405.55 m2, mean nuclear areas was 95.57 m2. Therefore, the ratio between mean nuclear to cell area for in vitro was 0.24. The results of ratios of mean nuclear to cell area showed that the root cells from both in vivo and in vitro were stable.

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ABSTRAK Penyebaran kurma (Phoenix Dactylifera L.) oleh benih atau menggunakan kaedah konvensional biasanya mencabar kerana proses percambahan yang perlahan dan tidak teratur. Dalam kajian ini, benih Phoenix Dactylifera L. var. Mariami dikulturkan pada dua keadaan yang berbeza; pada kapas lembap (in vivo) dan medium MS (Murashige dan Skoog, 1962) asas (in vitro). Peratusan percambahan yang tinggi telah diperhati dimana 91.89% bagi anak benih in vivo dan 95.12% bagi anak benih in vitro. Kadar pencemaran adalah tinggi bagi in vitro (52.78%). Benih-benih mula bercambah pada 3 hingga 7 hari bagi in vivo manakala bagi kondisi in vitro, benih telah mengambil 5 hingga 11 hari untuk bercambah. Kadar pertumbuhan dan pembangunan panjang akar kurma untuk kedua-dua kondisi mempamerkan lengkung sigmoid. Kajian sitologi ke atas kurma dari biji benih mendedahkan bahawa terdapat 36 kromosom dalam metafasa dan tiada perubahan kromosom berlaku semasa pertumbuhan akar utama dalam in vivo dan benih in vitro. Indeks mitosis telah ditentukan setiap minggu, bermula dari hari benih bercambah sehingga minggu ke-4 dan keputusannya ialah 2.20%, 4.93%, 6.47% dan 7.43% untuk in vivo dan 2.05%, 5.69%, 5.98% dan 2.79% untuk in vitro. Terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan dalam saiz sel antara sampel in vivo dan sampel in vitro, manakala sel-sel in vitro lebih besar daripada dalam sel-sel in vivo. Min luas sel bagi in vivo adalah 374.48 m2 dan min luas nuklear adalah 91.59 m2. Oleh itu, nisbah antara min nuklear : sel untuk in vivo adalah 0.25. Sementara itu, min luas sel bagi in vitro adalah 405.55 m2, bermakna luas nuklear adalah 95.57 m2. Oleh itu, nisbah antara min luas nuklear : sel untuk in vitro ialah 0.24. Keputusan nisbah min luas nuklear : sel menunjukkan bahawa sel-sel akar dari kedua-dua in vivo dan in vitro adalah stabil.