Verification of how to distinguish between male and female seedlings of date palm seeds

A method has been developed to distinguish between male and female date palm seeds. The (Apocole) emergence from the hilum bends towards gravity to the right or left of the seed head in a ratio of 1:1. To ensure that it is a genetically controlled phenomenon in date palms, 400 seeds were mixed randomly.100 seeds were planted with their dorsal surface up (as a control treatment) which germinated 52% towards the right and 48% towards the left of the seed’s head. 50 seeds were planted inverted in deep dishes and then germinated at the same ratio. 100 seeds were planted by tilting the embryo axis at a 45-degree angle to the right or the left. Half of them bent in the direction of gravity, and the other half delayed germination for several days, rising 2 mm above the surface of the seeds. Then 100 seeds were planted on a rotating clinostat placed on the plate's circumference to push the Apocole by the centrifugal force to bend towards the right or the left. Half of the seeds (which oppose the centrifugal force) germination were delayed for several days. 50 seeds were planted in the rotation axis center, so the Apocole germinated several days later before bending in its inherited direction. These confirmed that this bending is an inherited trait that distinguishes the sex of the seedling. After 5 years it confirmed our discovery of the distinction between male and female trees. Keywords: Date palm, sex determination, date palm seedlings, germination method, Apocole growth.