THE DISCRIMINATING POTENTIAL OF SOME LEAF MORPHOLOGICAL AND ANATOMI CALCHARACTERS IN CERTAIN DATE PALM CULTIVARS.

Some morphological, epidermal and anatomical characters of the leaflet
were studied in date palm cultivars, 8ent-Aisha, Hyeane, Samanie, and Zaghlool.
Moreover, The discriminating potential of the chosen characters between studied
cultivars were examined. Leaflet blade length / width ratio, number of veins at each
side of mid-vein, number of stomata I unit area, number of cell files in the costal
region, number of stomatal files within the intercostal region, number of small vascular bundles between two large vascular b undies, and certain characters 0 f t he fibrouspatches were proved helpful in cultivar - identification. Keys for identifying the studied cultivars were constructed based on characters of high discriminating potential.
Keywords: Leaf morphology, stomata, blade anatomy, date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, cultivar - identification Abbreviations:B = Bent-Aisha; cv(s) = cultivar(s); H = Hyeane; LVBs = large
vascular bundle(s); no. = number; S = Samanie; SVB(s) =
small vascular bundles; Z = Zaghlool.