Physico-chemical characteristics and total quality of date palm varieties grown in the southern of Tunisia.
The date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, is a palm extensively cultivated for its edible fruit. The chemical composition and the water content of ten Tunisian date varieties were determined. For all analysis, the Deglet Nour variety was taken as reference. Compositional analysis showed that the littoral varieties were very rich in reducing sugars (26 to 51%) than Deglet Nour which was rich in sucrose (54%). The relative results of the moisture content showed that the littoral varieties were classified as soft dates. The vitamin C analysis showed that the littoral varieties were very rich in this compound (24 to 46 mg/100 g) than Deglet Nour (1.12 mg/100 g). The mineral analysis showed that the littoral dates were relatively rich in potassium (283 to 733 mg/100 g) and presented a weak content in sodium (0.06 to 0.09 mg/100 g).
Mrabet
Abdessalem
A
Laboratoire Aridologie et Cultures Oasiennes, Institut des Régions Arides, 4119 Médenine, Tunisie.
Ferchichi
Ali
A
Chaira
Nizar
N
Mohamed
Ben Salah
BS
Baaziz
Zmohammed
Z
Penny
Threadgill Mrabet
TM
D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014416:Tunisia; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
D002241:Carbohydrates; D008903:Minerals; D014867:Water; D001205:Ascorbic Acid