Research and Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Saudi Arabia
Studies were conducted to evaluate the physico-chemical characters of eighteen date cultivars grown in Saudi Arabia. Procedures of fruit classification, according to its physical and chemical characters, were discussed.
Moisture and sugars were the two major constituents of dates investigated. Fruit texture was related to the proportions of reducing sugars and sucrose present. Soft cultivars contained little or no sucrose, dry cultivars contained relatively large amounts of sucrose, and semi-dry cultivars had an intermediate value. In addition, the chemical analysis for pectin, ether extract crude fibres and ash content of each cultivar were also carried out and discussed in relation to classification.
