Biotechnology Department, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, 13109 Safat, Kuwait
*Palm Agro-Production Company, Kuwait
The shelf life of Bushibal and Lulu date fruits at the khalal or rutab stages of maturity can be extended with potassium sorbate treatment (0.05%) by one to two weeks over that of control (six weeks) at a storage temperature of 4°C. However, the use of a lower storage temperature (−20°C) was more effective, extending the shelf-life of these fruits up to six or seven months. These manipulative technologies, if adopted by the date packing industry, would make the date fruits (at the khalal and rutab stages of maturity) available for an extended period.
