Preliminary identification of date palm cultivars by esterase isoenzymes and peroxidase activities

Abstract

Two types of crude extracts were obtained from 10 cultivars of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.); the Tris buffer extracts from acetone powder were assayed for peroxidase activity and the phosphate buffer extracts were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The gels were stained for esterase activity using α-naphthylacetate and α-naphthylbutyrate as substrates. The cultivars were divided into four sets on the basis of their esterase isoenzyme phenotypes. These sets were further separated into their individual cultivars on the basis of peroxidase activities. The results are discussed with respect to the possible relationship of the peroxidase activity in the vascular fusariosis of date palm (Bayoud disease). This study has potential for practical application; however, some additional refinements in procedures appear necessary to reduce extraction time.