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Updated: May 9, 2026

Novel Sequence Discovery by Subtractive Genomics
Published on: January 25, 2019
Genome sequence of the date palm Phoenix dactylifera L
Ibrahim S Al-Mssallem1, Songnian Hu, Xiaowei Zhang
1Joint Center for Genomics Research, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Prince Turki Road, Riyadh 11442, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. imssallem@kacst.edu.sa
Abstract:
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a cultivated woody plant species with agricultural and economic importance. Here we report a genome assembly for an elite variety (Khalas), which is 605.4 Mb in size and covers >90% of the genome (~671 Mb) and >96% of its genes (~41,660 genes). Genomic sequence analysis demonstrates that P. dactylifera experienced a clear genome-wide duplication after either ancient whole genome duplications or massive segmental duplications. Genetic diversity analysis indicates that its stress resistance and sugar metabolism-related genes tend to be enriched in the chromosomal regions where the density of single-nucleotide polymorphisms is relatively low. Using transcriptomic data, we also illustrate the date palm's unique sugar metabolism that underlies fruit development and ripening. Our large-scale genomic and transcriptomic data pave the way for further genomic studies not only on P. dactylifera but also other Arecaceae plants.
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