Morphological and Physicochemical Characterisation of Date Palm Cultivars from Ghardaïa (Southeast Algeria)

DOI: 10.46909/journalalse-2021-002 Original Article

Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment Vol. LIV, No. 1 (185) / 2021: 12-24

MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISATION OF DATE PALM CULTIVARS FROM GHARDAÏA (SOUTHEAST ALGERIA)

Abdelkader ALLAM1,*, Kaouthar DJAFRI1, Meriem BERGOUIA1, El-Haîfa KHEMISSAT1, Mohamed TAMA1, Brahim TALEB1

Received: Feb. 11, 2020. Revised: Mar. 16, 2021 Accepted: Mar. 23, 2021. Published online: Mar. 31, 2021

ABSTRACT. The date palm (Phoenix the characteristics weight, length, and dactylifera L.) is an economically diameter of the date and seed (23.16 g, important species vital for food security in 4.90 cm, 2.85 cm, and 1.53 g, 2.74 cm, Algeria, especially for the southern 0.94 cm, respectively). The cultivars population. There are an estimated 18 Takarnait and Halwa have high acidity, million palm trees in Algeria with more varying between 1.08 and 1.92 g/kg of than 1000 cultivars. This poorly known fresh material and a pH of less than 5.46. resource is unfortunately threatened with The cultivar Bouarous has a low sugar extinction. This work was carried out on content: less than 63%. Principal 24 date palm cultivars, studying their component analysis (PCA) was used to morphological and physicochemical analyse the whole dataset, revealing high characteristics, such as the weight, length variability among the cultivars. Thus, out and diameter of the date and the seed, and of 14 characteristics investigated, ten have the consistency, moisture, pH and sugar been shown to be strong discriminating content of the dates. Ten homogeneous factors. palm trees were selected for each cultivar. Keywords: characterization; cultivars; From each tree, we collected 40 fruits date palm; genetic diversity; oasis. devoid of their calices (4-5 fruits per bunch), at different heights and orientations in each bunch. The results INTRODUCTION show that the morphological and physicochemical characteristics vary from In Algeria, the culture of dates one cultivar to another. The dates of extends between latitudes of 25° and most cultivars have a combination of 35° north (Hannachi, 2012). It is good and bad characteristics. The cultivar distributed in the south-east (Biskra, Tmar-Bousbaa has very high values for El-Oued and Ouargla), south-west

1 Experimental Station of Sidi Mehdi Touggourt, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Algeria (INRAA) Touggourt B.P 17, Algeria

12 MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISATION OF DATE PALM CULTIVARS

(Bechar and Adrar), centre-far south Bouammar, 2015). Unfortunately, this (Ghardaia, Tamanrrassat, Tindouf and poorly-known diversity is threatened Illizi) and other sparse areas. with disappearance due to However, the most number of the date environmentally degrading factors, palm is in the south-east, home to including silting up, lack of water, almost 60% of national heritage of rural exodus, and monovarietal date palms (Merrouchi and Bouammar, cultivation. This has regressive effects 2015). on varietal diversity in particular, and Algeria has nearly 18.6 million the fragile oasis ecosystem in general palm trees, ensuring a total production (Hannachi, 2012). of 1.3 million tonnes of dates, across In addition, a serious vascular all varieties (Benziouche, 2017; disease of the date palm known as Belguedj, 2019; Rekis and Laiadi, Bayoud has already resulted in the 2020). The region of Ghardaïa loss of more than 3 million trees in produces nearly 608,000.00 kilograms Algeria. At present, this disease of dates and supports nearly constitutes a permanent threat to the 1,300,000 productive palm trees, phoenicultural heritage of the region, 524,350 of which are of the Deglet as measures to tackle it have not been Nour variety. The varieties Ghars, as effective as desired. In the global Timjouhart and Bent Kbala are strategy to fight this disease, the estimated to number 706,560 palm varietal diversity seen in the date palm trees (Algerian Ministry of Agriculture is a major advantage (Algerian and Rural Development, 2018). In this Ministry of Land Management and region, the palm is not considered to Environment, 2014). be the main agriculture, as other crops On the other hand, several besides palm trees are also important. constraints limit the development of In addition, more than 46% of the the date palm cultivation, including dates produced by the different the small size of farms and their cultivars are of lower quality fragmentation. A high proportion compared to the most distinguished (more than 46%) of palm trees of the variety Deglet Nour, and are generally so-called common cultivars do not intended for family consumption have great economic interest. The (Algerian Ministry of Agriculture and high levels of degradation of palm Rural Development, 2018). groves are due to several factors, such Concerning the genetic diversity as aging, lack of maintenance and of the palm, the number of cultivars poor irrigation systems (MADR, inventoried in Algeria is estimated at 2018). more than 1100, but only a few are As far as the characterisation of commercially important due to the date palm cultivars is concerned, little monoculture of the Deglet Nour work has been done. Existing work variety, which accounts for more than includes that of Harrak et al. (2003) 60% of the total number of palm trees and Djerouni et al. (2015), who (Hannachi, 2012; Merrouchi and studied the morphological variability 13 A. ALLAM, K. DJAFRI, M. BERGOUIA, E.H. KHEMISSAT, M. TAMA, B. TALEB of cultivated male palms from the palms with various intercropping crops, Oued Righ collection. Simozrag et al. such as fruit trees and other plant species (2016) have evaluated the phenotypic (Khene, 2013). diversity of date palms in the Ziban Vegetal material region, followed by physicochemical Date samples were taken from 24 characterisation of the main date date palm cultivars in the Ghardaia region. cultivars by Acourene and Tama (1997) and studies describing 26 Methods cultivars of date palms grown in the Methodological approach same region by Bedjaoui and Benbouza The approach used was based on (2018) and Rekis and Laiadi (2020). two essential phases: The objective of this study is to a. The survey and identification respond to the lack of knowledge in phase: during this phase, the sampling this field, and characterise the date areas were identified according to their geographic location, age, and the palm cultivars of the Ghardaïa region importance of the genetic diversity of the in order to protect those with a high date palm. food and market value. In addition, b. The global sampling phase: this the evaluation of the nutritional value phase was carried out before and during of dates will allow them to be more the maturation of the fruits (dates). We valued industrially and increase the sampled only cultivars with local number of cultivars considered to be appellations, selected by palm trees of interest. farmers, and which have been propagated vegetatively (Food and Agriculture MATERIALS AND METHODS Organization of the United Nations, 1990).

Study area Sampling method The study was carried out within the The followed sampling method is region of Ghardaïa, located 600 km south recommended by International Plant of Algiers in the central part of the north Genetic Ressources Institue (2005) and of the Algerian Sahara, at the entrance of Rekis et al. (2020). Three homogeneous the desert at 32° 30 north latitude and palm trees from each cultivar were 3°45 longitude (Ben Semaoune, 2008). It chosen. Per palm, we took 40 fruits is located in a moderate winter climate. devoid of their chalices (4 - 5 fruits per The region is characterised by an average cluster), at various heights and annual temperature of 22.6°C, reaching orientations of palms. Date fruits were 33.9°C at its highest in August and harvested at a mature stage (Acourene and 11.3°C at its lowest in January. The Tama, 1997; International Plant Genetic Ressources Institue, 2005). temperature variations have a large amplitude. During the day, in summer, the Analytical methods temperature can reach 50°C in the shade, Physical analysis but at night, in winter, it can fall below The colour was evaluated using a zero. Precipitation is low and irregular, colour chart and the consistency was with an annual average rainfall of 63.6 determined by touch. The weight and size mm (Chellat, 2014). Agriculture in the were measured from a sample of ten dates study region consists mainly of date

14 MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISATION OF DATE PALM CULTIVARS taken at random from a total of 40–60 form, the maximum of descriptive date fruits per cultivar. The fresh weight characters contained in a data table. of the date, seed, and pulp were determined for each variety using an RESULTS analytical balance (Sartorius CP225D). The length and width of the date and the In order to assess the physical seed of each variety were measured using and biochemical quality of the dates calipers (Acourene and Tama, 1997). of different cultivars, we have taken Biochemical analysis of dates into account the standards set by the The moisture content was Ministry of Agriculture in the inter- determined by drying 10 g of dates in an ministerial decree of 17 November oven at 105°C for 24 hours. The ash 1992 for the common varieties, as content was determined by incineration of well as the quality standards applied 1 g of date in a muffle furnace at a temperature of 600 °C for 3 hours in the international scale reported by (Association of Analytical Communities, Meligi and Sourial (1982). 1970). The pH, reducing sugars, sucrose Thus, a date is said to be of and total sugars were determined acceptable physical and biochemical according to previously described quality when it presents: no anomalies methods (Audigie et al., 1984). and not damaged; date weight ≥ Date quality assessment greater than or equal to 6.5 g; pulp  Morphological evaluation criteria weight ≥ 5.5 g; length ≥ 3.5 cm; According to FAO (1990), morphological diameter ≥ 1.5 cm; pH ≥ 5; moisture analyses were focused on the most content of 10 - 30%; sugar content ≥ discriminating characteristics, namely: 65%. weight of date (DW); weight of pulp (PW); length of date (DL); diameter of Evaluation of the morphological date (DD) and consistency (CD); weight characteristics of the date of seed (SW); length of seed (SL) and The results in Table 2 show that diameter of seed (SD); weight ratio the morphological characteristics of between seeds and fruits (SW/DW).  Physicochemical evaluation criteria the fruits vary from one cultivar to The criteria for qualitative evaluation of another. The cultivar Tmar-Bousbaa dates have been reported by Meligi and (TamB) has very high values for the Sourial (1982) and Mohammed et al. characteristics: weight of the date (1983) on Egyptian and Iraqi cultivars (DW), weight of the pulp (PW), (Table 1). length and diameter of the date (LD  Statistical analysis and DD). These values were 23.16 g, The results obtained were analysed using 21.63 g, 4.90 cm and 2.85 cm, the programme XLSTAT (Addinsoft, respectively. On the other hand, the XLSTAT.2020.1.3), using principal cultivars, Tadmamt (Tad) and component analysis (PCA). According to Amadjoudja (Amd) are characterised Philippau (1986), PCA is an essentially descriptive statistical method. Its by low date weight (DW), pulp objective is to present, in a graphical weight (PW), and length and the

15 A. ALLAM, K. DJAFRI, M. BERGOUIA, E.H. KHEMISSAT, M. TAMA, B. TALEB diameter of the date (LD and DD). Bouarous (Brs) have low weight, These values were 5.62 and 5.81 g, length and diameter of the seed: 0.65 4.60 and 4.99 g, 3.69 and 3.06 cm, and 0.83 g, 2.16 and 2.43 cm, and and 1.76 and 1.83 cm, respectively. 0.71 and 0.76 cm, respectively. Based Concerning the morphological on their consistency, these cultivars characteristics of the seed, the cultivar can be subdivided into three groups, (TamB) has high weight (SW), length soft, semi-soft and dry. (SL) and diameter (SD): 1.53 g, 2.74 Concerning the morphological cm and 0.94 cm, respectively. On the characteristics of the seed, the cultivar other hand, the cultivars Takarnaït Tmar-Bousbaa (TamB) has high (Tak), Dguel-Djedir (DgJd) and weight (SW).

Table 1 – Qualitative characteristics of dates and their description (according to Meligi and Sourial, 1982; Mohammed et al., 1983)

Characteristic Symbol Evaluation Standards Appreciation Low < 6.5 Bad character Date weight (g) DW Medium 6.5 - 8.5 Acceptable High > 8.5 Good character Low < 5.5 Bad character Pulp weight (g) PW Medium 5.5 - 7.5 Acceptable High > 7.5 Good character Low < 10 Good character Seed weight/Date SW/DW Medium 10 - 18 Acceptable weight (%) High > 18 Bad character Reduced < 3.5 Bad character Date length (cm) DL Medium 3.5 - 4 Acceptable Long > 4 Good character Low < 1.5 Bad character Date diameter (cm) DD Medium 1.5 - 1.8 Acceptable High > 1.8 Good character Medium 10 - 25 Good character Moisture (%) H High 25 - 30 Acceptable Very high > 30 Bad character Low < 65 Bad character Total sugars (%) ST Medium 65 - 75 Acceptable High > 75 Good character Acidic (bad pH pH ≤ 5 character)

Evaluation of the physicochemical with a dry consistency have low characteristics of the date moisture. In terms of acidity, the The cultivars of soft and semi-soft results obtained show that the consistency have high moisture cultivars, Tinaceur (Tinc), Takarnaït (Table 2). On the other hand, cultivars (Tak) and Halwa (Hal) have a high

16 MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISATION OF DATE PALM CULTIVARS acidity, varying between 1.08 and Bent-Kbala (BKb) has good 1.92 g/kg of fresh material (FM), and morphological and biochemical a pH between 4.94 and 5.46. characteristics, but very high Cultivars with a soft consistency are moisture, greater than 37%. This rich in reducing sugars (SR) but poor makes their preservation difficult and, in sucrose. On the other hand, consequently, also their packaging cultivars of dry and semi-soft and marketing. In addition, the fruit of consistency contain similar amounts cultivars including Akerbouch (Akr), of sucrose and reducing sugars (SR). Amadjouja (Amd), Azerza (Azr), and Similar results have been reported by Dguel-Latrech (DL) has a high to very Yousif et al. (1982), Sawaya et al. high sugar content (79.30–68.82%) (1983), Baangoud and Shamshad and an acceptable moisture (27.8– (1984), Bin-Shahna et al. (1987), 30.2%), but a low to medium weight, Acourene and Tama (1997) and length and diameter (5.81–13.33 g; Acourene et al. (2001), on different 3.06–5.35 cm; 1.70–2.46 cm). For date cultivars from other these cultivars, the application of phoenicultural countries. Finally, the particular cultivation techniques cultivar Tassebaït (Tsbt) has a very (sufficient and regular irrigation, high total sugar content, greater than fertilisation, limitation of the number 88%. On the other hand, the cultivar of bunches and chiseling) can Bouarous (Brs) has a low sugar improve the characteristics of their content, less than 63%. In general, the fruits. On the other hand, the fruit of majority of cultivars studied have a the cultivars, Aguema-N'djennet relatively satisfactory total sugar (TS) (AgNj), Dguel-Latrech (DL), content, greater than 70%. Guachouche (Gch), Takarnaït (Tak) and Tibenboul (Tbl) has poor Technical evaluation of the date characteristics, which makes their use Our analysis (Table 2) shows and marketing difficult. Finally, the that most of the cultivars studied have results obtained show that the fruit of a combination of good and bad traits. the cultivars Ali-Ourached (AlOu), The fruit of the cultivars Ali- Dguel-Djedir (DgJd) and Tinaceur Ourached (AlOu), Dguel-Djedir (Tinc) has a similar or better physical (DgJd), and Ghars (Ghr) has good and biochemical quality to that of the morphological and biochemical most commercialised and appreciated characteristics, characterised by: varieties, such as Deglet-Nour, Ghars, 8.47 g < high date weight < 15.68 g; Mech-Degla and Degla-Beida. We 4.15 cm < high date length < 4.26 cm; note that the fruit of the dry cultivar 1.80 cm < large date diameter < Tinaceur (Tinc) has physical and 2.42 cm; 25.7 % < a moisture between biochemical characteristics similar to < 31.2 %; a high to very high total those of Degla-Beida and Mech-Degla sugar content ˃ 68.5 %. (Acourene et al., 2001). However, the fruit of cultivars including Baba-Kassi (BKs) and

17 A. ALLAM, K. DJAFRI, M. BERGOUIA, E.H. KHEMISSAT, M. TAMA, B. TALEB

18 MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISATION OF DATE PALM CULTIVARS

Similarly, the fruit of the soft the two cultivars Ghars (Ghr) and cultivars Ali-Ourached (AlOu) and Tantboucht (Tant) are used for Dguel-Djedir (DgJd) has better making date paste. physical and chemical characteristics Correlation matrix compared to the variety Ghars (Ghr). The correlation matrix reveals In addition to these qualitative factors several correlations between the defining the quality of the date, there studied characteristics (Table 3). are also subjective factors, such as Positive correlations were observed colour and taste. In general, yellow, between the weight of the date (DW), white or brown cultivars are more the weight of the pulp (PW), the appreciated by consumers; however, weight of the seed (SW), the length of the taste differs from one consumer to the date (DL) and the diameter of the another. date (DD). Likewise, a positive Evaluation of technical aptitudes correlation between the moisture, the of different cultivars pH and the reducing sugar content The date has long been (RS) was observed. considered the staple food of the However, negative correlations Saharan populations. According to between pH and acidity; moisture and Table 2, most of the cultivars studied sucrose content; pH and sucrose have an acceptable nutritional value content; and sucrose content and the (rich in sugars). However, the reducing sugar content were noted. cultivars Aguema-N'djennet (AgNj), This shows that dates with a high Dguel-Latrech (DL), Guachouche moisture are rich in reducing sugars (Gch), Takarnaït (Tak) and Tibenboul and have a neutral to basic pH, but are (Tbl) have a poor nutritional value. poorly supplied with sucrose. On the These are generally used in animal other hand, dates of dry consistency feed. In addition, the fruit of other have low moisture, a slightly acidic cultivars such as Akerbouch (Akr), pH and a high sucrose content.

Amadjouja (Amd), Azerza (Azr), and Classification of the different Dguel-Latrech (DL), despite their cultivars according to principal richness in sugars, have poor component analysis morphological characteristics. Principal component analysis Therefore, these cultivars can be (ACP) was carried out on 14 used as raw material for making characteristics of the fruit and the syrups, alcohols, vinegar and citric seed. The results obtained show that acid. On the other hand, some soft the two axes (Fig. 1) contribute cultivars that are rich in sugars can 37.87% (axis 1) and 16.29% (axis 2) easily be used to manufacture date of the total inertia, a cumulative paste, which is very popular locally percentage of 54.17%. This indicated and can be incorporated in the that axis 1 contains the majority of the manufacture of cakes. However, exploitable information. currently only the dates produced by 19 A. ALLAM, K. DJAFRI, M. BERGOUIA, E.H. KHEMISSAT, M. TAMA, B. TALEB

Moreover, in principal component 14 characteristics of the date and the analysis, for a given trait to contribute seed studied, ten are discriminating, to the explanation of variation on axes namely: date weight (DW), pulp 1 and 2, its squared correlation must weight (PW), seed weight (SW), seed be high. For this purpose, out of the to fruit weight ratio (SW/DW), date

20 MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISATION OF DATE PALM CULTIVARS length (DL), date diameter (DD), indicates that they have common moisture, pH, acidity and reducing characteristics. Thus, the dispersion of sugar content (SR). In addition, the the cultivars studied on the plane cloud of samples projected on axis 1 indicates that there is high variability and axis 2 shows appreciable among them. According to Fig. 1, a differences between the different first classification of the cultivars can cultivars. In fact, the further the be carried out. For this purpose, these individuals are from the centre of the cultivars can be subdivided into four plane, the more dissimilar they are, groups. and if they are close to the centre it

Figure 1: Presentation cultivars according to F1 and F2 plan

Note: Active observations - date palm cultivars that are used in principal component analysis (ACP) Legends: Cultivar names AdBl: Adham-Boulou; AgNj: Aguema-N'djennet; Akr: Akerbouch; AlOu: Ali-Ourached; Amd: Amadjouja; Azr: Azerza; BKs: Baba-Kassi; BKb: Bent-Kbala; Brs: Bouarous; DgJd: Dguel-Jedir; DL: Dguel-Latrech; Ghr: Ghars; Gch: Guachouche; Hal: Halwa; NcOu: Nacer-Ouasalah; SbBa: Sbaa-Badraa; Tad: Tadmamt; Tak: Takarnaït; TamSeb: Tamzewart-Sebbagua; Tant: Tantboucht; Tsbt: Tassebaït; Tbl: Tibenboul; Tinc: Tinaceur; TamB: Tmar-Bousbaa.

21 A. ALLAM, K. DJAFRI, M. BERGOUIA, E.H. KHEMISSAT, M. TAMA, B. TALEB

Group 1: cultivars with a high The fruit of the other cultivars moisture (≥ 41.2%); a neutral pH has intermediate physical and (7.07–7.34); and a high reducing chemical characteristics, with no sugar content (≥ 69.97%). This group discriminating characteristics. consists of the cultivars Baba-Kassi (BKs) and Tassebaït (Tsbt). CONCLUSION Group 2: cultivars with a low date and pulp weight (≤ 6.45 g and ≤ The preservation of 5.70 g, respectively); a high seed to phoenicultural resources at the fruit weight ratio (> 11.62); a small regional level, particularly those date diameter (< 1.83 cm); a high threatened with genetic erosion, is an moisture (> 33%); a slightly alkaline urgent priority. In the region of pH (> 6.87), and an average reducing Ghardaïa, there are a total of sugar content between 61.80 and 114 cultivars. They are distinguished 73.69%. This group consists of the using various characteristics, which cultivars Aguema-N'djennet (AgNj), determine the interest of date growers Guachouche (Gch) and Tibenboul towards them. (Tbl). In this study, the evaluation of Group 3: cultivars with a low the quality of the dates revealed that date and pulp weight (≤ 6.90 g and ≤ the majority of the fruits of the 6.12 g, respectively); a high to very cultivars of this region possess a high seed to fruit weight ratio (≥ combination of good and bad 11.94%); a small date diameter (≤ characteristics, which affect their 1.96 cm); a low to medium moisture suitability for either consumption or (15.8–30.2%), and a low to medium processing. Nevertheless, the dates reducing sugar content (24.24– produced by the cultivars Ali- 57.86% of the dry matter). This group Ourached (AlOu) and Dguel-Djedir consists of the cultivars Amadjoudja (DgJd) have similar properties to (Amd), Halwa (Hal), Tadmamt (Tad), those of the cultivars Deglet-Nour, Bouarous (Brs) and Tinaceur (Tinc). Ghars, Mech-Degla and Degla-Beida. Group 4: cultivars with medium These varieties have high commercial to high date and pulp weight (13.95– value due to the large size and weight 15.68 g and 12.55–14.97 g, of the fruit. Consequently, their respectively); a low seed to date marginalisation is unnecessary, as weight ratio (< 10.03); a large date they belong to our phoenicultural diameter (> 1.95 cm); a medium to heritage, we must protect this heritage high moisture (25.7–40%); a neutral and aim to widen its genetic diversity. pH (6–7.14), and a high reducing The evaluation and description sugar content (> 64.83%). This group of the morphological and biochemical consists of the cultivars Ali-Ourached characteristics of the fruits of these (AlOu), Dguel-Djedir (DgJd) and cultivars revealed variation between Sbaa-Badraa (SbBa). cultivars. These differences are due to

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