al-‘Ulā DPA Project: Ethnographic, genetic, and morphometric analyses of the date palm agrobiodiversity in al-‘Ulā oasis

– al-‘Ulā DPA Project: Ethnographic, genetic, and morphometric analyses of the date palm agrobiodiversity in al-‘Ulā oasis
– Principal investigators: Dr Vincent Battesti & Dr Muriel Gros-Balthazard

The oasis of al-‘Ulā, in the northwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is at the center of an ambitious development project by the Saudi government. Al-‘Ulā is mainly an agricultural terroir. The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is the key plant of this complex man-made system: an essential part of the economy beyond sustenance. The touristic and economic development of the region will have an impact on urban areas and agriculture, and on the date palms in particular. A sustainable project hence requires an accurate assessment of the agrobiodiversity richness of the local date palms.

Here we propose a comprehensive estimation of al-‘Ulā date palm present and past diversity along with the understanding of its origins and evolution through time. The diversity of the date palm grown in the oasis al-‘Ulā seems particularly rich, with varieties unique to this oasis. An ethnobotanical survey will allow to better understand categorization and cultivation practices. Further, genomic and seed morphometric analyses of modern and ancient date palms will inform us on key aspects of the agrobiodiversity. Its provenance and transformation, from the beginning of date palm cultivation in al-‘Ulā till today, will hence be documented.

Beyond the characterization of local germplasm, this project will provide the knowledge that is fundamental to the sustainable development of the oasis. It will also inform conservation and breeding programs.