Cases of applied studies on the plants of the QBG
1. Genetic imprint of Costus and eagle wood
It is necessary to start the propagation process of tropical plants to determine the species and classification with efficiency and accuracy and avoid confusion with other plant species. This is why the QBG conducts a DNA analysis to determine the genetic footprint of the two mentioned plants and, in turn, determine the validity of their botanical classification.
| Type of analysis | Target | Source of plant samples | Result | Developer partner |
| DNA | Ensuring the botanical classification of trees such as eagle wood, costus and citron. | The QBG nursery. | The examination was confirmed according to the botanical monitoring carried out by the QBG. | Department of Biotechnology – Agricultural Research Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. |
It was clear from the analysis of the extracted DNA that the scientific name in the QBG records is consistent with the scientific name published on the NCBI network and, accordingly, the process of propagation was started directly in the following ways:
| Type of proliferation | The method of propagation | Plant | Success rate | Developer partner |
| Common | Lobularisation of the rhizomes | Costus | 100% | – |
| Common | Young cutting | Costus | 70% | – |
| Accurate | Tissue cells | Costus | 50% | Tissue Agriculture Department, Agricultural Research Division – Ministry of Municipality and Environment. |
| Common | Air layering | Eagle wood | 0% | – |
| Accurate | Tissue cells | Eagle wood | 0% | Tissue Agriculture Department, Agricultural Research Division – Ministry of Municipality and Environment |
2. A scientific study entitled “Use of Organic Nutritious Compounds to Increase the Growth and Quality of Two Species of Qatari Date Palm”.
The use of organic farming is essential to improve date palm productivity, as well as preserve the environment. This study aims to focus on improving the growth quality of date palms by using organic compounds (compost tea, humic acid, and bio-fertilizers) that are enhanced to protect our environment. In this research, five treatments were performed for the plants produced through the tissue culture technique:
- Compost tea
- Humic acid
- Vital fertilizers
- Mixtures of these three organic fertilizers and
- NPK as a chemical fertilizer (control)
The compost tea fertilizer increased the nutrient content on the basis of the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The mixture of compost tea, humic acid, and bio-fertilizers gave the maximum result of nitrogen in the soil, improving the properties and structure of the soil and the availability of nutrients within it.
Duration of study: 9 months – developer partner: Agricultural Research Department – Ministry of Municipality, and Environment.
3. Propagating the Arak tree by cutting:
The Arak tree is in constant demand for its roots or earthly rhizomes, which are used for tooth brushing. It is, thus, subjected to continuous cutting, and the QBG had a large group of plants that began to grow naturally and were used in the campaigns aimed at increasing the number of trees and distributing them to institutions, within the context of increasing vegetation. Accordingly, the propagation of this tree was done in the following ways:
| Type of proliferation | Method of propagation | Plant | Success rate | Developer partner |
| Common | Vegetative cutting | Toothpicks | 60% | Department of Genetic Resources – Department of Agricultural Research at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. |
| Common | Air layering | Toothpicks | 70% | Experience for 2019/2020. Work is ongoing. |
IBA-stimulating hormones were used at concentrations of 2500 ppm, 3500 ppm, and 4,500 ppm. The results of the samples showed that the amount of 4,500 ppm gave rapid root growth for the cutting under the temperatures of 30 ° C and relative humidity of 90% after a month in the incubation rooms prepared with the addition of LED light at 3000 cd / m3 for 8 hours daily.
