Azarian J. Agric. VOL (4) ISSUE 2, 2017: 46-53

Azarian Journal of Agriculture

www.azarianjournals.ir Azarian Journals Short Report ISSN:2383-4420

An introduction to Iran palms: types, usage and production problems Sakineh Ehteshami1, Seyed Morteza Zahedi2*, Naghmeh Daneshvar Hakimi Meybodi3, Marzieh Khazaei4

Article Info ABSTRACT

Palms are considered the symbol of desert and they probably originated from Iraq and Accepted: Iran. Due to its high tolerance in difficult climatic conditions, planting this tree has 26 April 2017 increased in warm areas all over the world during the recent years. The main regions for producing this fruit are the Middle East and north of Africa. Iran is one of the main date Keywords: producing countries in the world. There are more than 200 varieties of date in Iran, the Iran, Palm, Physical most important of which are Estameran, Shahani, Mazafati, Barhee, and Piaram. The and biochemical palm tree is a multipurpose plant and various parts of the tree are used as food, characteristics, medicine, and in industry. Despite high production of date in Iran, a large amount of Production problems this product is wasted due to lack of packaging and processing.

INTRODUCTION1 long-term survival and the temperature during pollination. Normally temperature between 23.9- alms are one of the oldest planted trees by 26.2°C leads to the formation of fruit with higher man. The most suitable areas for planting quality (Nixon and Carpenter 1978). The fruits will Pthese trees are arid and semi-arid of Middle be of high quality if 5-8% of the flowers change to East and north of Africa. Since palm is known for fruits. its tolerance to high temperature, salinity, and drought, its planting has expanded to other areas The date fruit is a berry, made of a single seed such as China, north of India, and California (Cao surrounded by a fibrous parchment-like whitish and Chao 2002; Sane et al. 2005). Iran, Saudi Endocarp, a fleshy Mesocarp, and the fruit skin Arabia, Algeria, and Iraq are the main producers of (Pericarp). The fruit is attached to the spikelet by a date in the world (FAO 2013). perianth (calyx or cap) (Barreveld 1993). It takes around 200 days for the fruit to move from the Phoenix dactylifera (Arecaceae) is a pollination to ripen stage and its growth contains monocotyledon and dioeciously tree which is five separate stages namely Hababook, Kimri, considered as a flowering plant species (male and Khalal, Rotab, and Tamar (Mortazavi et al. 2011). female flowers in separate bases) and naturally a At the kimri stage, there is a rapid increase in size wind pollinated plant (Zohary and Hopf 1993; and weight and a decrease in sugars; it is the period Barrow 1998). The flowers have three carpels and of the highest acid activity and moisture content only one of them can develop by pollination. Fruit (up to 85%). At the khalal stage, weight gain is formation is in close relationship with the pollen’s slow but sucrose content increases, moisture content goes down, and tannins start to precipitate and lose their astringency (Barreveld 1993). During 1 Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandar abbas, Iran the Rotab stage, the fruit is soft and its color 2 Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, becomes bright; this is followed by losing water University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran and accumulating sugar (inversion of sucrose into 3 Department of Horticulture, College of Agricultural Science and carbohydrate). In the last stage, the fruit loses much Engineering, Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran water and contains its highest amount of sugar. 4 Young Researchers and Elite Club, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad Most of the dates are harvested in this stage as a University, Qom, Iran soft, semi-dry, or dry fruit depending on their *Email: [email protected] destination or usage, while the fruit has 60-80%

sugar depending on its cultivar and environment (Yahya and Kader 2011).



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2. Medical value lipids, the growth factors, anti-bacterial activities, around 100 kinds of enzymes, and co-factors In traditional medicine, different parts of date (Hassan 2011). Recently, it has been shown that tree such as fruit and pollen, have been used for pollens contain estrone, estradiol, and estriol treating some diseases and disorders such as (Abbas and Ateyat 2011). paramnesia, fever, inflammation, paralysis, and loss of consciousness (Al- Qarawi et al. 2004). 4. Date applications Gum dates have been used for diarrhea treatment Palms have high nutritional, medical, and some urine disorders. Also, pollen has been economical, and social values. They are used in used for enhancing human fertility in some different industries such as the chemical, cosmetic, countries such as Iran. New researches show that medical, animal food, and food production ones. using date honey during delivery is effective for The date core is used in domestic foods after having a normal delivery (Kordi et al. 2009). Date grinding. The date leaves are used in paper-making honey has many fantastic properties such as being and crafts such as making bags, baskets, ropes, etc. anti-fungi (Shraideh et al. 1998), anti-bacterial and in some areas it is used for covering the roof of (Saddiq and Bawazir 2010), anti-parasite (Metwaly the houses. The spoiled fruit of this tree can be et al. 2012), anti-virus (Jassim and Naji 2010) and used in food processing and pastry. The edible having liver protective activities (Metwaly et al. usage of date and its use in chemical industry is 2014). The anti-microbial effect of diverse extracts discussed in the following sections. of different parts of this tree shows that this plant, especially its pollen, is so effective in 4.1. Edible usage contamination treatments like positive gram bacteria (Shakibaa et al. 2011). Using pollen in As it was mentioned, most parts of a palm traditional medicine has a long history and it has a have different applications in various areas but the main part is its fruit that can be used fresh and dry. variety of anti-microbial (Baltrusaityte et al. 2007), In north of Africa and the Middle East, some anti-oxidative (Le-Blanca et al. 2009), anti- cultivars are used in the Khalal stage when the fruit inflammatory (Choi 2007), and liver-protective is astringent and it has high tannin content (Glasner (Uzbekova et al 2003) properties in treatment. et al. 2002). This fruit is edible in the last three 3. Chemical properties stages but the most delicious form in most cultivars is in the Rotab stage. Most of the dates have high Date is full of nutrients and it has an important sugar content and a low content of moisture and role in nutrition and health. It has high sugar tannin. content and low content of protein and lipids. The Since dates are considered as the major source main mineral in date is Potassium and the major of sugar, their main usage is in food production, sugars are glucose and fructose. However, it which can substitute sugar in the nutrition formula. contains the required amino acid of the body, Date juice is used in producing different products which can not be produced by the body itself. The such as fruit ice-cream, sweets, jams, fermentative analysis of amino acids shows that the extract of products, drinks, desserts, and so on (Alfarsi 2003). date contains aspartic acid, prolin, glycine, The most important point in introducing sweet taste histidine, valine, leucine, arginine, threonine, is that concentrates and liquid sugar of date are able serine, methionine, isoleucine, tyrosine, to produce the required sweet taste in food industry phenylalanine, lysine, and a low concentration of and in this regard, they are suitable substitutes for alanine (Assirey 2015). This fruit has significant minerals, some of which such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphor, and sodium are necessary for proper metabolism of a human cell. Most of the chromes that are available in all of the developmental stages are chlorophyll, carotenoids, and in some cultivars, anthocyanin. Progressing in development and fruit maturity leads to a decrease in the amount of chlorophyll and carotenoid (Abo- Hassan and Bacha 1982). The most important phenolic contents in date include P-chomaric acid, folic acid, cynaptic acid, and some derivations of chymotic acid (Mansoori et al. 2005). Pollens are a good source of protein, amino acid, vitamins (A, B, C, D, E), nutritional fibrous, oil acids, enzymes, hormones, and minerals (Alferz and Campos 2000). Figure 1. Date production in Iran in comparison with other Totally, fresh pollens consist of water (5-36%) and countries (FAO 2013) solids (64-95%) such as minerals, vitamins, sugars,

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silver nanoparticles is comparatively rapid and less expensive and can be done on a large scale (Merugu et al. 2014). Palm pollen (PP) has been widely used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. PP was used as both the reducing and stabilizing agents in the synthesis of a silver nanoparticle (Ag NP) (Namvar et al. 2015).

Barium hexaferrite (BaFe12O19) nanostructures have been successfully synthesized from palm oil Figure 2. Date production in states of Iran (statistics of using the simple coprecipitation methods. The Jihad Agriculture 2014) effects of processing parameters such as the dosage of palm oil on the crystalline phase formation and magnetic properties were investigated. The sugar in food products. biosynthesized barium haxaferrite nanostructures were characterized using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Another important product of date is date Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Fourier paste that has a different usage in food industry. It Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). is a good substitute in most of the food formula. In Synthesis of nanostructures utilizing palm oil can pastry, it is used as the main material for cooking be beneficial, in which biotemplates can perform as sweets. both reducing and capping agents during the reaction process and result in nanostructures that 4.2. Applying palm in green chemistry are more biocompatible (Mandizadeh et al. 2014). Green chemistry is defined as designing Gold nanoparticles (AuNps) from the gold processes to reduce or eliminate using dangerous precursor were synthesized from palm oil mill substances. In the past few years, green chemistry effluent (POME) without adding external has been recognized as a science based on a new surfactant, capping agent, or template. POME has a methodology for protecting the environment. Bio- high content of phenolic acids and flavonoids. nanotechnology is a branch of nanotechnology that Availability of abundant hydroxyl groups in these uses biological resources for synthesis of compounds could have an important role in bio nanoparticles. Biological systems are more reduction of gold. The biosynthesized AuNps were environmentally friendly compared with the found to be predominantly spherical, with some chemical systems. triangular and hexagonal shapes. The impact of various reaction parameters on morphology and A novel approach for biosynthesis of the size of the biosynthesized AuNps was also silver nanoparticles is using Palm Toddy extract. investigated (Gan et al. 2012). Toddy extract fractions were prepared using different Milli-Q-water. Toddy extract fractions were mixed with silver nitrate (AgNO3) for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. Toddy extract 5. Date in Iran + reduces silver ions (Ag ) to metallic silver This plant, with a cultural history of 4000 nanoparticles (Ag0). Toddy mediated synthesis of years, is one of the strategic and important crops in Table 1. Date cultivation area in the States of Iran (Hectare) (Statistics of Jihad Agriculture 2014) Fertility area Unfertility area State Irrigated Dry land Total Irrigated Dry land Total Isfahan 114.6 0 114.6 196 0 196 Ilam 166.7 0 166.7 55 0 55 Booshehr 3428.1 69.4 3497.4 26752 2977.6 29729.6 The South of Kerman 2827.3 0 2827.3 28037 0 28037 The Southern Khorasan 581.1 0 581.1 1265.0 0 1265.0 Khozestan 6903.6 0 6903.6 25785.0 0 25785.0 Semnan 32.5 0 32.5 53 0 53 Systan and Baloochestan 7665.0 154.4 32.5 21256 13036.5 34292.5 Fars 2630.2 474.5 3104.7 22365 3525 28890 Kerman 4112.8 0 4112.8 24314.9 0 24314.9 Kermanshah 260.1 0 260.1 212.3 0 212.3 Kohkeluyeh and Boyer Ahmad 34.3 0 34.3 47.5 0 47.5 Hormozgan 3086.4 0 3086.4 24233.3 2997 27230.3 Yazd 298.2 0 298.2 2006 0 2006 Total 32140.9 698.2 32839.2 176578 22536.1 199114.1

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Iran. It had been planted before Achaemenid dry date. This crop is consumed in Iran due to its dynasty and it is referred to in Sasani literatures. sweet taste and pretty color. 5.1. Cultivation area and date production in Iran According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the date cultivation area in Iran is of 162998 hectares and its production is 1083720 ton/h. Iran holds the second rank in production and third rank in the cultivation area in the world (Figure 1) (FAO 2013).

Date is the fourth important fruit after apple, grape, and orange to be cultivated in Iran: Kerman Figure 4. Shahani Cultivar (29%), Systan and Baluchestan (17%), Booshehr (14.5%), and Khozestan (14.6%) have the biggest 5.2.3. Mazafati production areas and produce 63% of the date in Mazafati (Figure 5) is one of the main Iran (Table 1, Figure 2). cultivars in Iran and it has the third economical 5.2. Date cultivars in Iran rank after Estameran and Shahani. It is known because of its large size, delicious taste, good form, Having more than 400 cultivars, Iran has the and long shelf life. It matures on the tree and it is richest Germplasm in the world. Around 50 better to be eaten fresh. It is mainly cultivated in cultivars of Iran have high value in trading and the Kerman state especially in Bam, Jiroft, exporting (Pejman 2002). The most important Kahnooj, Shahdad, and Narmshir. Crop production cultivars in Iran are Estamerani, Shahani, Mazafati, is high and it is 300 Kg /tree. Its total production is Piaram, Kabkaab, Diri, and Rabbi (Mohebbi 2005). 10000 TonHe-1 (10% total production) and this is Some ingredients of cultivars are mentioned in amount to 30% of the exporting product of date table (2). (Hashempoor 2002). 5.2.1. Estameran-Sayer Dates It’s sorting and cleaning is very difficult due Estameran dates (Figur. 3) are considered as to the soft texture and sensitive skin which causes dry dates which are the most important cultivars in many dates to be destroyed by molds or Iran (Hazbavi et al. 2015). Their highest production fermentation. Dust and damages by birds or insects is in the Khozestan state. This fruit is in the oval result in decreased quality of this date. Because of shape and its color is red-brown or amber-like in its having high moisture, it is very sensitive to mature stages and it is bright yellow in the other microbial decays, so mechanization is very stages and it has a thick skin (Moosavi and Hojati important regarding the type of its consumption in 2009). The fruit taste is sweet and somewhat astringent and the core adhesion is low (Ghasemkhani 2008).

Figure 5. Mazafati Date different maturity stages.

5.2.4. Barhee

Figure 3. Estameran date (Sayer) Barhee (Figure 6) is one of the most important economical cultivars in the world and southwest 5.2.2. Shahani part of Iran and it is consumed in Khalal, Rotab, and Tamar stages. The fruit is round, rough, and The crop has a long form and its color is yellowish in the Khalal stage and it has a favorable yellowish or bright brown (Figure 4). It is delicious taste in the Kharak stage because of low and has a good scent. It holds the second rank in astringency. However, it is really spoilable because the cultivation area and its highest production is in of high moisture and respiration and low shelf life. Fars and especially in Jahrom. It is categorized as A few days after harvesting, wrinkles and spots the soft dates but in some areas it is consumed as a appear on the fruit and decrease its quality. In the

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Figure 6. Barhee Date Figure 7. Piarum date Rotab stage, it has soft texture, high amount of Kahnooj, in 1989, and it starts in the Kharak stage sugar, and moisture, that cause low shelf life and its (Rahkhodaii and Pejman 2008). The fruits dry and contamination by molds and yeasts (Mortazavi et then they separate from the clusters. There are al. 2007; Karimipoorfard 2000). various comments on this problem. Rahkhodaei and Pejman (2008) believe that climatic factors, 5.2.5. Piarum especially high temperature and low humidity, are the main reasons. This problem would become Piarum (Figure 7) has dark color and delicate much more serious in high temperature (<43°C) skin. It has fructose sugar and it is suitable for and low humidity (>25%). It can be seen in diabetics. It is one of the most important semi-dry different levels in date orchards, even it can be seen cultivars in Iran. The percent of moisture is low and that some dates are contaminated while others are the quality is favorable. It has a desirable shape for not (Mireii and Sedigh 2013). marketing. It is a well-known cultivar in the Hormozgan State. Commercial cultivars such as Mazafati in Jiroft, Bam, and Kahnooj, Mordarsang in 5.3. Date problems in Iran Hormozgan, Kabkaab in Booshehr and Khasi, and In recent years, wilting and drying has spread Kabkaab in Behbahan are the most sensitive in the areas of date planting, especially in Kerman. cultivars which face this problem. Sudden dejection Existence of this problem is reported only in Iran in fruits during the Khalal to Rotab stages and and it is not common in other countries. Although appearing of brown strips at the top or bottom of many researches have been done with regard to the the clusters are the main signs in these cultivars detection of this problem, the relative agent hasn’t (Pejman et al. 2004). Research in Pests and Disease been detected yet. There are diverse factors in date Institute (PDI) has not proved any role for a virus, decay that are due to lack of new technologies and viroid, mycoplasma, bacterium, or nematode in outdated places of packaging and processing. producing and enhancing these problems. Thielaviopsis paradoxa is considered as the second 5.3.1. Occurrence of bunch withering agent in enhancing wilting and die backing of the date clusters under the environmental stress and dry In recent years, some pests have polluted date air condition (Karimipoorfard 2001). orchards and caused serious damages to the production and export of date in Iran. Bunch Rahkhodaei and Pejman (2005) reported that withering is the most important problem in weather changes, especially sudden decrease of producing Mazafati and the damages are very humidity, increase in temperature, and warm dry serious; around 50-55 % of the total production has winds have considerable influence on the been contaminated. At first, it was reported in mentioned problem in changing the fruit from the

Table 2. Percent of the main ingredients, minerals, and sugars in dominant cultivars in Iran (Keramat and Khoresh 2001) Sodium Ash Protein Fat Moisture Cultivars (%) Zahedi 24 1.7 2.0 0.2 11.3 Khenizi 24 1.7 2.2 0.2 12.4 Kangrood 27 1.7 2.3 0.2 14.2 Estameran 26 1.4 2.1 0.1 12.8 Khasi 32 1.8 2.3 0.2 11.7 Behbahan Kebkaab 39 1.7 2.9 0.2 17.3 Shahani 34 1.5 2 0.1 15.5 Shahdad 31 2 1.5 0.2 28.5 Jiroft Mazafati 40 1.6 2 - 16.3 Bam Mazafati 36 1.4 1.6 0.2 24.7 Booshehr Kabkaab 31 1.5 2.1 0.3 15.8

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Table 2. Continued Fructose Glucose Total of Sugar Calcium Potassium Cultivars mg/100gr Zahedi 32.5 32.8 69.3 25 677 Khenizi 37.2 36.1 60.7 22 692 Kangrood 31.9 30.3 70.5 32 627 Estameran 32 31.6 68.1 21 522 Khasi 27.4 26.4 64.2 23 798 Behbahan Kebkaab 32.6 31.3 68.9 29 819 Shahani 32.5 33 73 11 390 Shahdad 34 33.5 54 28 812 Jiroft Mazafati 37.1 35.7 70.3 13 293 Bam Mazafati 31.4 29.4 62 11 356 Booshehr Kabkaab 41.3 40.6 66.7 9 475

Kharak to Rotab stage. It seems that management only in warm deserts, it can be an economic product in the countries that host this tree. The can be an effective factor in solving this problem in south of Iran is a hot area and has diverse high date orchards (Mirzaei 2001). Spraying trees of an quality cultivars; therefore, Iran is the second most orchard with potassium sulfate or calcium chloride important producer of date in the world, despite of alone or with a micro fertilizer is effective in which, it does not hold a high rank in exporting preventing decay and increasing the Mazafati date. In Iran, Bunch withering and post-harvest yields (Roosta 2002). losses are the most important reasons of decline in production and fruit quality, respectively. During 5.3.2. Storage and packaging the last few years, improving and standardizing the The biggest problem in date industry is packaging industry and materials have led to an changing its physical-chemical properties because increase in the amount of date exported by Iran. It of inappropriate maintenance conditions during seems that investment and research in this field can storage and poor packaging. Temperature and increase the income from this valuable fruit. packaging techniques are effective factors in the postharvest period (Zanoni et al. 2007). Microbial REFERENCES and physiological decay increases in inappropriate Abbas A.F. Ateya A.M. (2011) Estradiol, esteriol, conditions. Mold and fermentation are the main estrone and novel flavonoids from date palm reasons of microbial decay. Bad smell or taste is pollen. Australian journal of basic and applied related to its physiological decay (Barreveld 1993). sciences, 5(8): 606- 614. Quality of date is in close relationship with its Al Farsi M.A. Lee C.Y. (2008) Nutritional and chemical, physical, mechanical, and rheological functional properties of dates: A review. properties. The quality of the fruits is affected by Critical Reviews in Food Science and proper maintaining conditions that are Nutrition, 48: 877- 887. polygalactronaze causes them to be soft (Ismail Al- Qarawi A.A. Mousa H.M. Ali B.E.H. Abdel- 2008). Rahman H. El Mougy S.A. (2004) Protective effect of extracts from Dates (Phoenix Packaging leads to physical protection, dactylifera L.) on carbon tetrachloride-induced storage, marketing, and quality maintenance. It not epatotoxicity in rats. The International Journal only decreases its external and internal decay, but of Applied Research in Veterinary Medicine, will also help its better and easier transportation. In 2: 176- 180. other words, packaging of date is a technical- Alferz M.J.M. Campos M.S. (2000) Beneficial economical function, the main purpose of which is effect of pollen and or propels on the iron, to minimize the distribution costs, maximize calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in rats selling, and distribute it safely until it is given to with nutritional ferropenic anemia. Journal of the consumers (Mohajer 1993).Some other Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 48: 5715- problems in storage and packaging date in Iran are 5722. its non-standard storage, shortage in the storing Assirey E.A.R. (2015) Nutritional composition of space, keeping fruits in open areas, accumulating fruit of 10 date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) different types of dates in unhealthy conditions, cultivars grown in Saudi Arabia. Journal of non-standard harvesting and processing, and Taibah University for Science, 9: 75- 79. shortage of freezers in date planting areas Baltrusaityte V. Venskutonis P. Ceksteryte V. (Ghasemkhani 2007) (2007) Radical scavenging activity of different CONCLUSION floral origin honey and beebread phenolic extracts. Food Chemistry, 101: 502- 514. Date, due to its high nutritional value, is one of the popular fruits in the world. Since this fruit grows

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