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Life table of almond moth, Cadra cautella Walker was studied on four main dry and semi-dry date palm varieties (Deyri, Zahedi, Piarom, and Rabbi) of Iran under laboratory conditions. Data were analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. Duration of total preadult stages was 42.54, 45.79, 51.48 and 50.41 days on Deyri, Zahedi, Piarom, and Rabbi, respectively. The highest fecundity of female almond moth on date palm varieties was 245.29 eggs on Zahedi. The intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) on different varieties of date palm ranged from 0.069 d^-1 (on Piarom) to 0.105 d^-1 (on Deyri). The highest net reproductive rate (R₀) was on Deyri (95.81 offspring) and the lowest value was on Rabbi variety (42.37 offspring). Our results showed that the highest r_m, the largest fecundity and the shortest generation time of almond moth were observed on Deyri variety. It was concluded that among date palm varieties, Deyri was the most favorable host plant for almond moth reproduction performance.

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Macro and micromorphological investigations were conducted on selected Xerepts soils from southern Iran to identify changes in soil characteristics with time. Soil samples from similar pedons of four irrigated orchards ranging in age from 20 to 100 years were studied and compared with soil samples of a pedon of non-irrigated land. In addition to routine analyses, undisturbed blocks of soils from each horizon of pedons were prepared and used for micromorphological studies. Field data, micromorphological obsrevations and laboratory data, permitted an overview of changes in soil characteristics and their role in the pedogenesis. Changes observed include the type and distribution pattern of voids, translocation and accumulatin of CaCO3, and the soil fabrics. Calcitic hypocoatings, and compound dense complete calcite infillings in vughs, and large voids were attributed to precipitation as induced by irrigation. There seems to be an increase in organic matter content with time. This needs to be further studid to establish condition for carbon sequestration and increased soil quality in arid regions.

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  Studies were conducted on properties of oil extracted from seeds of three date palm( phoenix dactylifera) cultivars, Khadrawi, Dayri and saamaran, grown in Khuzestan. Date seeds consistuent  approximately 10% of the fruit. Amounts of seeds can be made available after the progress in date industrialization. Seeds contained 8.5-10.8% fat. The following values were obtained for samples: iodine value 44.1-48.2, saponification number 214-226, peroxide value 17-22, acid value 0.98-1.28, refractive index 1.450-1.459, specific gravity 0.91656-0.91793, viscosity 18.1-20.8 mPa.s. Gas-Liquid Chromatography revealed that major unsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid (38.76-41.15%), while the main saturated fatty acid was lauric acid (22.49-25.44). Capric , myristic , palmitic , stearic and linoleic acid were also found 0.19-1.8%, 12.47-18.73%, 9.91-11.5%, 1.92-2.36%, 6.18-7.25%, respectively. Linolenic, arachidic and behenic acid were also found only in Dayri and saamaran very low.Results showed that date seed oil could be used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food products.

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  Date palm is one of important and strategic crops in, Iran. Microbial contamination is the most important factor in wasting of date palm. In this study, Sayer or Stamaran cultivar that is the most predominant cultivar in Khuzestan province, was studied and its microbial profile and characteristics including: total  count ( T.C), mold and yeast, and coli form were determined. During six months storage at 2 different temperatures environment temperature (25^°C   ) and cold storage ( 4 ^°C   ). Samples of date fruits were taken randomly after harvesting from ten trees and were then packed in plastic containers and stored as mentioned until the day of experiment for microbial analysis and analyzed in 3 replicates.Date samples homogenized with stomacher and then diluted with serum physiology.Standard plate count agar, sabroud Dextrose Agar and Violet Red Bile Lactose Agar media were used for total count,mold and yeast and coliform determination,respectively. Results showed that cold storage had inhibitory effect on microbial growth and microbial profile especially mold and yeast has had increasing trend in environment temperature and decreasing trend in cold storage during 6 month.With respect to mold and yeast log cfu had increased from 3.63 to 5.32 in room or environmental temperature and had decreased from 5.36 to 3 in cold or refrigerator temperature.No clear trend had been seen in total count and coliforms in both temperatures. Finally according to the results, the best condition for date palm storage is the cold storage or refrigerator temperature (4 ^°C) that this temperature has the inhibitory effect on microbial growth.

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Piarom is considered as one of the most important semi-dried date fruits in Iran which has been highly affected by stored pests. The current study was aimed to evaluate the effects of the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and vacuum packaging (VAP) methods on storage pests control and date quality. To do so, Piarom variety were packaged in two package systems, including passive modified atmosphere and vacuum package system. The control samples were kept unpackaged. The packages were kept under two different storage conditions; at 4 °C and 55 ± 10% RH, and 25-27 °C and 70 ± 5% RH for 30, 60, 90 and 150 days. The experiment was carried out based on a completely randomized design arranged in factorial with four replicates. The results showed that Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella (Hübner)and sawtoothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) are the most important storage pests with 87.5 and 12.5% contamination, respectively. The passive MAP and VAP reduced the pests infestation rate significantly compared to control. Also, they could better preserve pH (5.88 and 5.85 for MAP and VAP, respectively) than the control (5.78). Changes in water activity in MAP and VAP were almost the same at the two storage conditions i.e., ambient and at 4 °C and was significantly different from the control. The maximum water activity change was observed in control treatment.

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One of the most important date producing areas in Iran is Khusestan province. Sayer, zahedi and dairi are the main date variety cultivated with a 75% fraction. Due to its arid conditions this province has the third place in date palm production after Kerman and Hormozgan with 82641 tons date production. The major components in Date palm (Phoenix dactylifena L.) are carbohydrates, which are the most important parameters for commercial quality and nutritional value in this fruit. In this study we assessed the water content, total sugar and energy content of four major date varieties (Sayer, Dairi,Zahedi and Hallawi) from the Khuzestan province. Other proximate date compositions such as the protein content, dietary fibre and essential minerals were also investigated. The mentioned date varieties have more than 65% sugar content and were found to be a good source of energy (333.82-349.68 Kcal/100g), daily recommended dietry fibre intake and mineral components such as iron and phosphorus.

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Our study aims to evaluate the physicochemical mechanism involved in the adhesion of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis (Foa) on date palm root of resistant (Aziza M) and susceptible (Boufegouss) varieties by determining their surface properties. Hydrophobicity of Date palm root and Foa was evaluated by contact angle measurement (θ_w) and free energy of interaction determination (∆Giwi). Our results showed that Foa surface is hydrophilic (θ_w = 30.57° and ΔG_iwi = 15.51 mj/m²) and has an important electron donor character (γ^- = 53,99mj/m²), whereas its electron acceptor property is low (γ⁺ = 8.95 mj/m²). Regarding date palm, the surface of sensitive variety’s root is hydrophilic (θ_w = 62.97°), while that of resistant variety is hydrophobic (θ_w = 69.50°). This character was confirmed by quantitative approach (ΔG_iwi = 6.84 mj/m² for sensitive variety and ΔG_{iwi =} -20.61 mj/m² for resistant variety). Also, it was noted that both resistant and sensitive varieties are weak electron acceptors (γ ⁺ = 0.15 mj/m² and γ ⁺ = 0.08 mj/m² for resistant and sensitive varieties respectively). The two varieties are relatively important electron donors, but the sensitive variety is more donor (γ^- = 30.5 mj/m²) than the resistant one (γ^- = 16.57 mj/m²). These results suggest that hydrophilic character and electron donor/acceptor character may be responsible for the adhesion of Foa on sensitive date palm root and therefore causes its susceptibility to bayoud disease. In contrast, the hydrophobic character of the resistant variety could explain its resistance.

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The inflorescence rot is an essentially high impact (or damaging) disease of date palm. The current research was carried out to help develop a decision-making system in Abadan, Khorramshahr, Shadegan, Ahwaz, Mahshar, and Behbehan regions of Khuzestan province Iran based on climatic and geostatistical models using five-year data from 2011 to 2015. Samples were taken randomly from 10 date palm trees within one orchard in each of 33 villages. The disease started in March, and the damage reached its peak values in April. The forecasting model of damage factors has been significant at levels 1 and 5%. The model nuggets for disease in Abadan-Khorramshahr, Shadegan, Ahwaz, Mahshar, and Behbehan regions were 2.1, 1.1, 0.09, 2.60, and 0.27 km, respectively. These results show that the disease damage estimation errors were low at distances less than within sampling space. The effective ranges of variograms were 4.9. 8.3, 9.1, 5.1, and 4.2, respectively, indicating the disease distribution in the region. The sill of models were 0.41, 0.46, 0.46, 0.29, and 0.58, respectively, indicating that correlations between the damage data were at the lowest level and could be monitored at distances more than these thresholds. Findings are fundamental steps in creating a decision-making system in the date palm protection network. Therefore, it could be concluded that the date inflorescence rot disease can be monitored, forecasted, and controlled correctly before the maximum damage occurs.

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Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis (Foa) is a cosmopolitan soil-borne fungus responsible for the most destructive disease of the date palm tree Phoenix dactylifera L. in Morocco. In the present study, we used aqueous and methanolic root extracts from Punica granatum to evaluate their ability to induce date palm defense against Foa and their antifungal activity. The in vitro treatment of Foa by these extracts showed different inhibitory effects depending on the nature of the extract. The methanolic extract showed significant inhibition of both mycelial growth (51%) and biomass production (86.3%), while the aqueous extract inhibited the sporulation (99.3%) and the spore germination (75.9%) of the pathogen. Moreover, treatment of date palms with methanolic extract has shown a significant increase in phenolic content and peroxidase activity known to be involved in date palm defense against Foa. These preliminary results open a promising field to control date palm Fusarium wilt.


 

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One of the most important problems in date processing is unsuitable storage conditions, packaging types and then changing physicochemical characteristics.In this research date fruits (Kabkab variety) were packed within aerobic atmosphere and vacuumed PA/PE pouches and stored at different temperatures (-20, 4, 25 and 40 ºC). The samples were evaluated for textural parameters (hardness, adhesiveness,  cohesiveness and springiness) monthly during the storage period up to 6 months. The storage temperature, time and packaging type greatly (P < 0.01) affected hardness, cohesiveness and springiness tested in date fruits during storage.Time and packaging type had significant effects on date adhesiveness, while temperature did not affect it. All texture properties were higher in the dates stored at 40 ºC within all packaging types in sixth month. An increase of hardness was detected for atmospheric and vacuum- packed datesthroughout the storage period. However, it was noted that increasing was significantly greater at 40 ºC compared to other storage temperatures.  

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 Date bunch fading (DBF) is a serious disease of date palm (Phoenix dactelifera L.) in Iran. Fusarium proliferatum was isolated from the xylem of fruit bunch samples sent from Kerman and Fars provinces groves to the laboratory. Koch’s postulates were completed in the greenhouse by crown injection and root inoculations. Shriveling of the fruits was induced by peduncle inoculations. Symptoms on the seedlings indicated the effects of ethylene. The possible involvement of F. prolifertum phytotoxin(s) in the induction of DBF through elicitation of ethylene is discussed. The gas is suggested to be responsible for the gums deposits and, in turn, water stress resulted in shriveling and fading of the fruits.

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The aim of the present study was to compare antioxidant properties of date palm and Zizyphus extracts in two concentrations (200 and 500ppm) more over investigation the possibility of synergism interaction between them. Date palm extract in all concentrations had a significant higher effect than Zizyphus in DPPH free radical scavenging assay, total antioxidant capacity and reducing power. Furthermore, zizyphus in all tests was weaker than BHT, but date palm in 500 ppm concentration had higher total antioxidant capacity and reducing power in comparison to BHT (100 ppm), and lower from BHT (200 ppm) in these assays. Among different combinations of these extracts, synergistic effect was found in two concentrations (200 and 500) in DPPH free radical scavenging assay(in concentration 200, Zizyphus80:date palm20, Zizyphus50:date palm50 and Zizyphus20:date palm80 and in concentration 500, Zizyphus40:date palm60 and Zizyphus20:date palm80) and also 200 ppm concentration in reducing power assay(Zizyphus40:date palm60 and Zizyphus20:date palm80). The result showed that date palm in high concentration (500 ppm) had similar capacity to low concentration (100 ppm) of BHT. Combination of date palm extract and low amount of zizyphus at high concentration (500 ppm) can compete with low concentration (100ppm) of BHT.

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Demographic analyses of dubas bug, Ommatissus lybicus de Bergevin, (Hemiptera: Tropiduchidae), reared on five date palm varieties (Zahdi, Mazafati, Piarom, Khasi, and Shahani) were constructed under laboratory conditions at 27±1ºC, 70±5% RH, and a 14:10 hours (L: D) photoperiod. Data were analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory to take the variable developmental rate among individuals and both sexes into consideration. Results showed that different varieties of date palm influenced development time and fecundity of dubas bug. The total pre-adult developmental time was the shortest on Zahdi (85.21 days) and the longest on Khasi (88.39 days). The longevities of both male and female adults on different varieties were significantly different. The mean fecundity per female was significantly higher on Zahdi (78.62 eggs) and Mazafati (68 eggs) than on Shahani (43.53 eggs) and Khasi (46.32 eggs). The highest and lowest net reproductive rates were obtained on Zahdi (40.58 offspring per individual) and Shahani (16.88 offspring per individual), respectively. The intrinsic rates of increase were 0.0401, 0.0368, 0.0355, 0.0312 and 0.0301 per day on Zahdi, Piarom, Mazafati, Khasi and Shahani, respectively. The mean generation times ranged from 92.78 days reared on Zahdi to 95.25 days on Mazafati. According to results obtained in this study, Shahani and Khasi were the most resistant varieties while Zahdi was the most susceptible variety to dubas bug among the varieties tested.

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The effect of storage at 0 and 20°C for 30 days with and without a passive Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and the effect of a freezing storage at -20, -40 and -80°C for 10 months followed by 1 week at 5°C on overall quality of Deglet Nour dates were studied. After the storage time, the physicochemical properties and sensory quality, microbial development, and moth infestation (Ectomyelois ceratoniae) of dates were monitored. It was observed that the storage temperature greatly affected the overall quality of dates. The 0°C was recommended for a short-term storage of fresh dates of one month. The MAP technique (6 kPa O₂+12 kPa CO₂) showed a positive effect on keeping overall quality of dates at 20ºC. However, for a long-term storage (10 months in frozen conditions plus 1 week at 5ºC), all freezing temperatures assayed kept the overall quality of dates and no differences were observed among them. In order to minimize the global costs, -20°C was considered as the most adequate temperature for a long-term freezing storage period. In conclusion, these chilling and freezing techniques could be recommended for commercial use at industrial scale.
 

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The fibers of date palms, which are widely available in the south of Iran, are a variety of natural fibers that can be used as a reinforcement in polymer composites. This work investigates the effect of alkali treatment on the mechanical properties of date palm fibers and their adhesion to thermoset polymer. The sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution at three different concentrations (1 wt%, 3 wt%, and 5 wt%) was used to treat the fibers. The single fiber tensile test and fiber pull-out tests were performed to measure the mechanical properties and fiber/matrix interfacial share strength, respectively. Comparing the SEM images of the untreated and treated fibers showed that the 3% NaOH treatment could effectively remove non-cellulosic materials, i.e. lignin and wax, with minimum damage to the fiber surface. The experimental results showed a clear improvement of the mechanical properties and fiber/matrix adhesion after treatment. It was found that the 3% NaOH solution is the optimal concentration to achieve the maximum improvement in the fiber and bonding properties.

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