Method of identifying date palm gender using scar primers

Abstract

The method of identifying Date Palm gender using SCAR primers includes using modern genetics techniques for detecting a novel sex-linked marker (SEQ ID NO: 1) in a Date Palm sample. The presence of the Date Palm sex-linked marker (SEQ ID NO: 1) in the sample is indicative that the sample is from a male Date Palm plant. The method of identifying Date Palm gender to determine the gender of Date Palms can be used to determine the gender of Date Palms of any age.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sex-determination method for Date Palm, comprising:
 obtaining a sample from a Date Palm plant; and   determining a presence or absence of the Date Palm sex-linked marker (SEQ ID NO: 1) in the sample,   whereby the presence of the Date Palm sex-linked marker (SEQ ID NO: 1) in the sample is indicative that the sex of the Date Palm plant is male.   
     
     
         2 . The sex-determination method for Dale Palm according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample includes Date Palm plant tissue or an extract from Date Palm plant tissue. 
     
     
         3 . The sex-determination method for Date Palm according to  claim 2 , wherein the Date Palm plant tissue is selected from the group consisting of leaves, seeds, petals, flowers, and bark. 
     
     
         4 . The sex-determination method for Date Palm according to  claim 1 , wherein the sample includes plant body fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The sex-determination method for Date Palm according to  claim 1 , wherein determining a presence or absence of the Date Palm sex-linked marker (SEQ ID NO: 1) in the sample includes:
 a) extracting nucleic acid from the Date Palm sample;   b) contacting under amplification conditions the nucleic acid from the sample with a male-specific Date Palm sex-linked marker primer pair; and   c) detecting the presence or absence of amplification products,   whereby the presence of amplification products is indicative of the presence of the Date Palm sex-linked marker (SEQ ID NO: 1) in the sample.   
     
     
         6 . The sex-determination method for Date Palm according to  claim 5 , further comprising detecting a presence or absence of amplification products having an approximate size of 186 base pairs, whereby the presence of amplification products having an approximate size of 186 base pairs is indicative of the presence of the Date Palm sex-linked marker (SEQ ID NO: 1) in the sample. 
     
     
         7 . The sex-determination method for Date Palm according to  claim 5 , wherein the male-specific sex-linked marker primer pair includes an oligonucleotide including SEQ ID NO: 2 and an oligonucleotide including SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         8 . The sex-determination method for Date Palm according to  claim 5 , further comprising isolating the nucleic acid extracted from the sample. 
     
     
         9 . The sex-determination method for Date Palm according to  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid is DNA. 
     
     
         10 . The sex-determination method for Date Palm according to  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid is RNA. 
     
     
         11 . The sex-determination method for Date Palm according to  claim 5 , wherein the amplification conditions comprise conditions for carrying out polymerase chain reaction (PCR). 
     
     
         12 . The sex-determination method for Date Palm according to  claim 1 , wherein the presence or absence of the Date Palm sex-linked marker (SEQ ID NO: 1) in the sample is determined by detecting a protein in the sample, the protein being a protein that is encoded by the Date Palm sex-linked marker (SEQ ID NO: 1), whereby detection of the protein is indicative of the presence of the Date Palm sex-linked marker (SEQ ID NO: 1). 
     
     
         13 . The sex-determination method for Date Palm according to  claim 12 , wherein the protein is detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). 
     
     
         14 . A kit for sex determination of a Date Palm plant, comprising:
 a pair of male-specific sex-linked marker primers specific for amplification of the Date Palm sex-linked marker (SEQ ID NO: 1); and   amplification reagents for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the sex-linked marker (SEQ ID NO: 1).   
     
     
         15 . The kit for sex determination of a Date Palm plant according to  claim 14 , wherein the pair of male-specific sex-linked marker primers include an oligonucleotide including SEQ ID NO: 2 and an oligonucleotide including SEQ ID NO: 3. 
     
     
         16 . A kit for sex determination of a Date Palm plant, comprising:
 at least one antibody against a protein encoded by SEQ ID NO: 1; and   at least one indicator to detect a binding complex of the protein encoded by SEQ ID NO: 1 and the at least one antibody.