Publication Date

2022

Publisher

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia

City

Perth

Abstract

Introducing new plants to an area may have both positive and negative effects on the environment, economy and community. To minimise the negative environmental impact of introducing new agricultural species, DPIRD conducts a risk assessment procedure based on widely accepted scientific standards. This report assesses Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera). The date Phoenix dactylifera is one of the oldest cultivated tree crops, thought to have been domesticated in Mesopotamia (now Iraq) more than 5000 years ago. The chief commercial production areas are in the Middle East and northern Africa. Date palm plants are diecious (i.e. either male or female), with only the female plants producing fruit but requiring male plants for pollination. They require a long, hot growing season. Low humidity and the absence of summer rain help in the production of high-quality fruit. Research work at Gascoyne Research Station in the 1960s showed that good yields of quality dates could be produced. However, dates have not been produced commercially in Western Australia for a number of reasons with the lack of a supply of good planting material the biggest obstacle to commercial production. Plants grown from seed produce fruit with variable yields and quality and are not suitable for commercial production (Burt 1999). Dates are grown commercially in two regions of Australia, the South Australian Riverland and near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory (Reilly et al. 2010). Historically, dates have been grown at Eulo in Queensland and Gascoyne Junction in Western Australia, but currently there is no commercial production at these locations.

Number of Pages

3

Keywords

weed risk, assessment, biosecurity, Western Australia, Date palm, Phoenix dactylifera

Disciplines

Biosecurity | Weed Science

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