Common and novel metabolic pathways related ESTs were upregulated in three date palm cultivars to ameliorate drought stress.

Date palm is an important staple crop in Saudi Arabia, and about 400 different date palm cultivars grown here, only 50-60 of them are used commercially. The most popular and commercially consumed cultivars of these are Khalas, Reziz, and Sheshi, which are also widely cultivated across the country. Date palm is high water-demanding crop in oasis agriculture, with an inherent ability to tolerate drought stress.