title: Physico-chemical characteristics and total quality of date palm varieties grown in the southern of Tunisia.
abstract: 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).
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Aridologie et Cultures Oasiennes, Institut des Régions Arides, 4119 Médenine, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Abdessalem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mrabet
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferchichi
authors.forename: Nizar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaira
authors.forename: Ben Salah
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Zmohammed
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Baaziz
authors.forename: Threadgill Mrabet
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Penny
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D008903:Minerals; D014867:Water; D001205:Ascorbic Acid