Iraq’s Ministry of Agriculture announced on Tuesday the completion of full genomic documentation of the Zahdi date palm variety, with its genetic data deposited in the database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
The ministry described Zahdi as one of Iraq’s prominent and widely cultivated date varieties, noting its strong presence in international markets. It said documenting the variety’s genetic fingerprint represents a significant scientific achievement that could strengthen the global recognition of Iraqi dates and their native palm varieties.
The genomic project was carried out by Wahaj Al-DNA for Training, Qualification and Services in cooperation with the Horticulture Department. The team completed whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and submitted the resulting data to NCBI’s Sequence Read Archive (SRA), creating a documented genetic reference for future scientific research and genomic studies.
The ministry said the achievement is part of ongoing efforts to document and preserve the genetic heritage of Iraqi date palms. It follows the genomic documentation of the Barhi variety last year and is intended to protect the genetic identity of local varieties while enhancing their scientific and agricultural value internationally.
