The cultivation of date palms in the Gulf region is known to exist for more than 2500 years as per the ancient texts. Date palm is an integral part of the culture and tradition of many hot and barren parts of the old world and plays an important role in sustaining the human life.
There is mention of dates in the religious book of Holy Koran and is a favorite food of Muslims all over the world during the holy month of Ramadan. The date palm is a vital part of the ecology of arid and desert areas of the world providing protection to under-crops besides, preventing erosion and reducing damage from sand storms. Moreover, date palm serves as an excellent food source of nutritive value with per capita consumption in deserts of some countries as high as 150-185 Kg/annum. In view of these facts date palms still occupy a very important place in the social and cultural life of the Kingdom. This wonderful palm is under threat from an alien, invasive pest called Red Palm Weevil for the past two decades.
The innovative research projects will be undertaken on various aspects covering pheromones, kairomones, and substitute for fresh food in traps, new conventional pesticide molecules, pesticide residues and botanical pesticides in the laboratories of the Chair. Research proposals will be invited from the University faculty members interested to pursue research on RPW to provide funds so as to fill the gaps in our knowledge in priority areas.
|
