Pre and Post-Harvest Studies on Barhi Date | ||
| Journal of Plant Production | ||
| Article 10, Volume 15, Issue 9, September 2024, Pages 541-549 PDF (364.76 K) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/jpp.2024.321466.1381 | ||
| Authors | ||
| A. H. Hassan; Asmaa S. M. Omar* ; M. A. Ibrahim | ||
| Pomology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The necessity of this study stems from the increasing importance of enhancing the post-harvest quality and storability of Barhi dates (Phoenix dactylifera L. CV "Barhi") in Egypt, a vital crop for the agricultural economy. The study aimed to investigate the effects of palm age (5 and 10 years) and bunch thinning (5 or 10 bunches per palm) on both the physical and chemical characteristics of the fruit at harvest and during cold storage. The experiment was conducted over two consecutive seasons (2021 and 2022) at a farm in Abu Suwayr, Egypt. Measurements at harvest included fruit set, fruit drop, bunch weight, fruit weight, firmness, soluble solid content (SSC), total sugars, carotenoids, flavonoids, tannins, and total phenols. Post-harvest quality was evaluated over storage periods of 0, 10, 20, and 30 days. The results showed that older palms (10 years) with fewer bunches (5 per palm) produced higher-quality fruits. During storage, fruits from the palm at 10 years also exhibited lower decay rates and better preservation of quality parameters. Bunch thinning was found to improve fruit quality at both harvest and during storage, particularly in terms of reduced weight loss and better retention of phenolic compounds. In conclusion, managing palm age and bunch thinning practices can significantly enhance the quality and storability of Barhi dates. Future recommendations include optimizing these practices at a commercial scale to improve marketability and extend the storage life of this valuable crop. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Barhi dates; storability; decay; Egypt | ||
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