ISHS Acta Horticulturae 736: III International Date Palm Conference
ARTIFICIAL RIPENING OF KHUNEIZI DATE USING PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL METHODS |
| Authors: | M. Yektankhodaei, A. Bagheri, I. Mohamadpour, Y.A. Karami |
| Keywords: | khalal |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.736.6 |
| Abstract:
Khuneizi date is one of the high quality date cultivars grown in Minab area. However, if grown along the coastal strip where humidity is high, its fruits become sour and fall before ripening. Because of the damage caused to date tissue by unfavorable climatic conditions, it is necessary that this fruit be ripened using artificial methods to prevent the destruction and waste of the date. For this reason a factorial experiment was conducted in Minab in 2000. This cultivar was ripened with both physical and chemical treatments including controlled heat and humidity. In this investigation the laboratory conditions for artificial ripening of dates to prevent date rancidity were evaluated. Khlalas were treated at two TSS levels and pre-treatment properties of the dates were evaluated. These properties included qualification of TSS, total sugar and reduced sugar percentages. The treatments included salt solution (5 and 10 percent), acetic acid solution (2 and 5 percent) and freezing time (24, 48 and 72 hours at -8 degree centigrade). Dates were then`placed in four different temperatures, including 40, 50, 60 or 70 degrees centigrade. The best treatment was freezing followed by placement of the ripened dates at 50 degree centigrade for 48 hours, for khalals containing up to 36 percent TSS at picking time. This treatment resulted in the highest rate of TSS and percentage of rutab from khalal. | |
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