INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY ISSN Print: 15608530; ISSN Online: 18149596 11468/AWB/2012/14197100 http://www.fspublishers.

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Full Length Article

Physical and Chemical Quality Attributes of Freeze-Stored Dates

RASHID AL-YAHYAI1 AND LATIFA AL-KHARUSI
Department of Crop Sciences, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 34, Al- Khod 123, Oman 1 Corresponding authors e-mail: alyahyai@squ.edu.om

ABSTRACT
Dates can be consumed at three stages: at the fully-ripe stage (khalal), when partially overripe (rutab), and at the fully overripe stage (tamar). Only the latter stage of dry dates i.e., tamar are traditionally stored for future consumption and processing. However, with the introduction of freeze-storage in rural date palm cultivation areas, prolonged storage in freezers has been gaining popularity as it allows for the consumption of all three stages at any time of the year. The effects of prolonged freezestorage on date physical and chemical quality attributes were assessed in this study. Dates were collected at three ripening stages (i.e., khalal, rutab & tamar) from 8-years old date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) grown in northern Oman and subjected to storage at -18oC in a conventional freezer. Fruit quality data were collected at harvest, after 6 months and 10 months of storage. The results showed that prolonged freezing affected fruit physical and chemical quality at different ripening stages. Physical attributes such as flesh and seed weights were reduced during freeze-storage, while percentage of flesh to seed and fruit volume was not affected by freezing. Moreover, storage up to 6 months produced the highest total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH and biomass for all ripening stages. Rutab stage maintained high fruit volume, flesh and seed weights during storage. Whereas, tamar stage had the highest total soluble sugars, titratable acidity but the lowest pH, TSS: TA ratio, pectin and biomass. No interaction between ripening stages and storage duration was found in this study. Results suggest that prolonged freeze-storage is a viable alternative that allows for the consumption of dates at three stages of ripening compared to conventional storage of only dry dates. 2012 Friends Science Publishers Key Words: Date palm; Fruit quality; Oman; Phoenix dactylifera; Postharvest; Storage

INTRODUCTION
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is the main fruit crop in arid and semi-arid regions of western Asia and North Africa between 24oN and 34oN (Zaid & AriasJimnez, 2002). In the Sultanate of Oman, for example, date palm constitutes approximately 50% of the total cultivated area (Al-Yahyai, 2007). Date palm is cultivated in regions that are characterized by harsh climates for the cultivation of other food crops. Therefore, dates are considered a nutritionally important fruits in many parts of the developing world. Dates in Oman are usually consumed (1) by tabseel, which is boiling fully mature dates that have developed full color i.e., khalal stage; (2) when dates are at the rutab stage, when the distal end of the fruit becomes soft; or (3) when the dates are partially or fully dry and the fruit has attained its highest sugar content i.e., the tamar stage. Dates are normally stored for a maximum of two years for future consumption and processing during the tamar stage. Date physical and chemical fruit quality characteristics vary greatly among cultivars (Jaradat & Zaid, 2004; AlYahyai & Al-Khanjari, 2008; Sakr et al., 2010) and at

various fruit developmental stages (Rouhani & Bassiri, 1976; Ahmed et al., 1995; Myhara et al., 1999; Al-Kharusi et al., 2007). Various postharvest approaches were applied to increase date fruit quality and extend shelf-life including low/high temperature storage and use of controlled atmosphere environments (Falade & Abbo, 2007; DehghanShoar et al., 2009). The date industry usually stores tamar at 3C up to one year. After packing and releasing to the market, the fruits are expected to have a shelf-life of up to two years at room temperature (~25C) (Ismail et al., 2008). However, with the introduction of electricity and modern technology in traditional date farming communities, freezestorage provides supplemental or alternative storage option that allows for the consumption of dates at three stages compared to the dry storage of the tamar stage. Since fruit quality and shelf-life are affected by extended postharvest storage conditions, it is very important to assess the effects of these conditions on the physical and chemical properties of dates. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of extended freeze-storage on postharvest fruit quality of date fruits (cv. Khalas) and the response of various date ripening stages to prolonged freeze-storage.

To cite this paper: Al-Yahyai, R. and L. Al-Kharusi, 2012. Physical and chemical quality attributes of freeze-stored dates. Int. J. Agric. Biol., 14: 97100

AL-YAHYAI AND AL-KHARUSI / Int. J. Agric. Biol., Vol. 14, No. 1, 2012

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Plant materials: Fruits were randomly collected from 8year old date palm (cv. Khalas) trees planted at a spacing of 10 10 m at the Agricultural Experiment Station of Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman, during the summer of 2008. Fruit bunches were thinned to eight per tree following fruit set and prior to sampling. The date palms were supplied with to the standard recommended fertilizer and irrigation regimes for northern Oman. Forty strands per eight replication trees were randomly collected at each of the three ripening stages (i.e., khalal, rutab & tamar). The fruits were further divided into sub-samples of 100 fruits per replication for the physical and chemical quality measurements. The fruits were placed into clear plastic bags and stored in a conventional freezer with temperature set to at -18oC. Fruit quality measurements: Date fruits were harvested at each of the ripening stages (i.e., khalal, rutab & tamar) and were immediately subjected to physical and chemical quality assessments. Following freeze-storage, these quality measurements were taken after six and ten months of storage. The following fruit measurements were taken: fruit number per strand, fruit fresh weight, fruit volume, flesh and seed weights and juice contents. Chemical quality attributes were conducted using the extracted juice that included total soluble solids (TSS) contents, titratable acidity (TA), pH, and pectin. Fresh and dry weights of fruits were used to calculate the percentage of fruit biomass. Dry weight was determined by drying in an air oven at 105C for 24 h (AOAC, 2000). TA was determined against 0.01 N of sodium hydroxide according to AOAC (2000), and results expressed in terms of citric acid. Total soluble solids (TSS %) measured by digital refractometer (160, Shibuya Optical Co. Ltd., Wako-shi, Saitama Pref., Japan). For dry fruits at the tamar stage, date solution was prepared by weighing 30 g of fruit samples and an aliquot of 90 mL of distilled water was added and blended. Statistical analysis: The statistical analysis to test the effects of the two variables (i.e., ripening stage & storage period) and their interaction distributed in a completely randomized design (CRD) on fruit quality was done using the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) of the SAS Software (SAS Institute, Carey, NC). The means for the effects of storage period and the ripening stages were separated and compared using the Duncans Multiple Range Test as described by Snedecor and Cochran (1989). Least square means (LSMeans) option of the GML procedure was used to determine the interaction between the two variables. Hence no significant interaction was found, data is presented herein for the main effects of storage periods and ripening stages only. Mean points were calculated from pooled data of all the fruit ripening stages or storage duration standard error (SE).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This study investigated the long-term changes in fruit physical and chemical quality attributes during freezestorage of dates at different maturity stages. Upon harvest, the ranges of the quantity of physical characteristics and chemical components were similar to those previously obtained for date palm fruit (cv. Khalas) grown under similar conditions of northern Oman (Al-Kharusi et al., 2007; El Mardi et al., 1998, 2007). Fruit physical quality attributes: Results showed significant changes in various fruit physical characteristics in response to freeze-storage of fruits at various ripening stages (Fig. 1 & 2). Significant reductions in flesh and seed weights due to prolonged freeze-storage for 6 and 10 months were observed across all fruit ripening stages (Fig. 1). However, no change in fruit volume occurred after 10 months of storage and the ratio of flesh to seed remained high (~90%) up to six months but was slightly reduced to 87.65% at the 10th month of storage (Fig. 1). Samples collected during the ripening stages of khalal and rutab had more fruits per strand than at the later overripe (tamar) stage that had about one third of the fruits remained intact in the strands (Fig. 2). This indicated that extended on-tree storage of dates is not suitable for Khalas cultivar and harvest should be carried out during the earlier ripening stages. Data further showed that no significant difference between khalal and rutab in fruit weight and volume (Fig. 2). However, rutab stage had the greatest average fruit volume, flesh and seed weights, and percentage of flesh to seed, while tamar stage was the lowest amongst the three ripening stages (Fig. 2). This is expected since tamar stage has the lowest moisture content, which correlates with reduced physical fruit measurements. Previous study on Khalas from UAE suggested a maximum storage of two months under -3oC compared to Barhee cultivar that was stored for a year under similar conditions without deterioration (Ismail et al., 1998). Ismail et al. (1998) attributed the rapid deterioration of Khalas to perhaps chemical and physiological changes in Khalas dates. Lower storage temperature of -18oC may have helped preserve our Khalas samples for up to 10 months. Fruit chemical quality attributes: Results from this study showed variations in measured fruit chemical quality attributes of dates stored at -18oC at various ripening stages (Fig. 3 & 4). Freeze storage up to six months increased fruit (TSS) (oBrix), TA and pH (Fig. 3). Unexplained rise in TA after 6 months of storage led to a significant decline in TSS:TA ratio followed by 10-month storage compared to a high TSS:TA ratio determined upon harvest (Fig. 3). Fruit pectin content was measured at harvest and after 10 months of storage at -18oC showed a significant decline over this period (Fig. 3). However, due to lack of data for 6 months, it is not clear if this was a steady decline or it would have followed the trend for TSS mentioned above. Fruit biomass

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ATTRIBUTES OF FREEZE-STORED DATES / Int. J. Agric. Biol., Vol. 14, No. 1, 2012 Fig. 1: Physical properties of Khalas dates at harvest (0) and after 6 months (6) and 10 months (10) of storage under -18oC (Pooled data means SE). Columns with same letters differ non-significantly (P>0.05) from each other
18 16 14 Flesh weight (g) 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Percentage of flesh to seed 80 60 40 20 0 0 6 10 0 6 10 Storage duration (months) Storage duration (months)
a a b c b b a

Fig. 3: Chemical properties of Khalas dates at harvest (0) and after 6 months (6) and 10 months (10) of storage under -18oC (Pooled data means SE). Columns with same letters differ non-significantly (P>0.05) from each other
35 Total soluble solids (oBrix) 30 25 20 3 15 10
c b a b b a

1.6 A
a b

6 Titratable acidity (%)

Biomass (%) TSS:TA Titratable acidity (%)

1.4 Seed weight (g) 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0

5 4

2 1 0

5 0 70
a

8 Fruit volume (cm3) 6 4 2 0

60 50 TSS:TA 40 30 20 10 0 1.8 1.6 1.4 Pectin (%) 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0
b a a c c

a b

8 6 4 pH Biomass (%)

2 0
a a

40 30 20 10 0

Fig. 2: Physical properties of Khalas dates stored at 18oC at three maturity stages i.e., khalal, rutab, and tamar (Pooled data means SE). Columns with same letters differ non-significantly (P>0.05) from each other
14
A B a a

14
a a

10

10

Fruit number per strand

12 10 8 6 4 2 0 10

12 Fruit weight (g) 10 8 6

Storage duration (months)

Storage duration (months)

4 2

Fig. 4: Chemical properties of Khalas dates stored at 18oC at three maturity stages i.e., khalal, rutab, and tamar (Pooled data means SE). Columns with same letters differ non-significantly (P>0.05) from each other
50 Total soluble solids (oBrix)
a

0 16 14

6
a b c b b

40 30 20 10 8 0 7
b a

5 4 3 2 1 0 50
a

Fruit volume (cm3)

12
b

6
b c

10 8 6 4 2

4 2 0 1.4 1.2

Percentage of flesh to seed

a b

0
c F

Flesh weight (g)

80
c

6 5 pH 4 3 2

40 30
b

Seed weight (g)

1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4

60 40 20

20
c

1 0 1.5 Pectin (%)

a b c a a b

10 0 40 30 20

0.2 0.0 Khalal Rutab Tamar Khalal Rutab Tamar Fruit maturity stage Fruit maturity stage 0

1.0

as determined on dry weight basis from fresh and dry weight measurements did not significantly vary among storage durations. Date fruit TSS (oBrix) steadily increase with the advancement of fruit ripening from khalal to rutab to tamar

0.5

10 0 Khalal Rutab Tamar Khalal Rutab Tamar Fruit maturity stage Fruit maturity stage

0.0

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AL-YAHYAI AND AL-KHARUSI / Int. J. Agric. Biol., Vol. 14, No. 1, 2012 stages (Fig. 4). Likewise, TA was highest at the tamar stage compared to the other stages, while pH was highest at the rutab stage and lowest at the tamar stage. Pectin content and the ratio of TSS:TA decreased as fruit ripening advanced from khalal to tamar stages. Biomass did not differ between khalal and rutab stages but tamar stage had the lowest fruit dry biomass. Several methods for enhanced ripening, such as the use of air-drying and rehydration (Falade & Abbo, 2007), and storage (Dehghan-Shoar et al., 2009) have been investigated. However, few studies have explored refrigeration as a mean of prolonged date storage and for preserving chemical quality of dates, particularly at the Khalal and Rutab stages. Results from this study showed that fruits from rutab stage can be stored in a conventional freezer at -18oC without significant losses in physical and chemical quality. Prolonged freeze-storage up to 10 months is feasible despite a slight decrease in fruit flesh weight. This decrease in some physical characteristics was counter balanced by an increase in some chemical attributes such as TSS.
Al-Kharusi, L., M. El Mardi, F. Al-Said, S. Al-Rawahi and K. Abdulbassit, 2007. Effect of mineral fertilizer and organic peat on the physical characteristics of Khalas and Khasab fruits. Acta Hortic., 736: 497504 Al-Yahyai, R., 2007. Improvement of date palm production in the Sultanate of Oman. Acta Hortic., 736: 337343 Al-Yahyai, R. and S. Al-Khanjari, 2008. Biodiversity of date palm in the Sultanate of Oman. African J. Agric. Res., 3: 389395 AOAC, 2000. Associate of Official Analytical Chemists Official Methods of Analysis, 17th editor. Washington DC, USA Dehghan-Shoar, Z., Z. Hamidi-Esfahani and S. Abbasi, 2009. Effect of temperature and modified atmosphere on quality preservation of sayer date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera). J. Food Proc. Pres., 34: 323 334 El Mardi, M., F. Al Said, C. Sakit, L. Al Kharusi, I. Al Rahbi and K. Al Mahrazi, 2007. Effects of pollination method, fertilizer and mulch treatments on the physical and chemical characteristics of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) fruit I: Physical Characteristics. Acta Hortic., 736: 317328 El Mardi, M., H. Esechie, L. Al-Kharousi and K. Abdelbaist, 2002. Effect of pollination method on changes in physical and chemical characteristics of date fruit during development. SQU J. Agric. Sci., 7: 2127 Falade, K.O. and E.S. Abbo, 2007. Air-drying and rehydration characteristics of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits. J. Food Eng., 79: 724730 Jaradat, A. and A. Zaid, 2004. Quality traits of date palm fruits in a center of origin and center of diversity. Food Agric. Environ., 2: 208217 Ismail, B., I. Haffar, R. Baalabaki and J. Henry, 2008. Physico-chemical characteristics and sensory quality of two date varieties under commercial and industrial storage conditions. LWT Food Sci. Tech., 41: 896904 Myhara, M., J. Karkalas, M. Taylor, 1999. The composition of maturing Omani dates. J. Sci. Food Agric., 79: 13451350 Rouhani, I. and A. Bassiri, 1976. Changes in the physical and chemical characteristic of Shahani dates during development and maturity. J. Hortic. Sci., 51: 489494 Sakr, M., I. Abu Zeid, A. Hassan, A. Baz and W. Hassan, 2010. Identification of some date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) cultivars by fruit characters. Indian J. Sci. Technol., 3: 338343 Snedecor, G.W. and W.G. Cochran, 1989. Statistical Methods, 8th edition. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, USA Zaid, A. and E.J. Arias-Jimnez, 2002. Date Palm Cultivation. FAO Plant Production and Protection Paper 156 (Rev. 1). FAO, Rome, Italy (Received 09 August 2011; Accepted 23 September 2011)

CONCLUSION
As a result of significant drop in fruits per strand at tamar stage, it is recommended that fruits used for long-term storage are harvested during the khalal and rutab stages. Freeze storage can supplement dry storage of dates. Further research on other date fruit quality parameters such as appearance, texture, and sensory evaluation is highly recommended.

REFERENCES
Ahmed, I.A., A.K. Ahmed and R.K. Robinson, 1995. Chemical composition of date varieties as influenced by the stage of ripening. Food Chem., 54: 305309

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