Abstract
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) fruit are an economically and culturally
significant crop in the Middle East and North Africa. There are hundreds
of different commercial cultivars producing dates with distinctive
shapes, colors, and sizes. Genetic studies of some Date palm traits have
been performed, including for date palm sex-determination, sugar content
and fresh fruit colour. In this study, we used genome sequences and
image data of 199 dry date fruit (Tamar) samples collected from 14
countries to identify genetic loci associated with the color of this
fruit stage. Here, we find loci across multiple linkage groups (LG)
associated with dry fruit color phenotype. We recover the previously
identified VIR genotype associated with fresh fruit yellow or red color
and new associations with the lightness and darkness of dry fruit. This
study will add resolution to our understanding of the date palm fruit
color phenotype especially at the most commercially important tamar
stage.