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In order to boost up the production of Dhakki date an experiment was conducted during cropping season 2019-2020 at Research Orchard of date palm, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan (Pakistan). Experiment was designed in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), possessing 13 (T1 to T13) pollination treatments including one control (No pollination) and repeated three times. Data for the following parameters were collected viz fruit set %age, fruit drop %age, fruit yield (kg bunch-1) and physico-chemical fruit characteristics. Results indicated that except control, all the treatments improved the yield and yield components. The highest fruit set (81.68% and 82.30 %,), bunch weight (15.28 and 16.20 kg), fruit weight (25.13 and 25.25 g), fruit length (5.09 and 5.19 cm), fruit width (3.06 and 3.13 cm) pulp weight (23.80 and 23.93 g), moisture content (63.11 and 62.89%) and T.S.S (33.13 and 33.35%) were recorded in T12 (3 strands having 110 flowers) during both years of study as compared to other treatments. While all these parameters have shown lowest values in control (No Pollination). However, the findings of this research investigate that all the treatment consistently improved quantitative, qualitative and yield characteristics and can be suggested for obtaining of maximum yield of Dhakki date. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effect of date fruit consumption in late pregnancy on the onset and progress of labour, the need for induction and augmentation, and delivery outcomes. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial (NCT05105893). Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jan to Jun 2021. Methodology: One hundred and forty women were randomized into equal-strength Experimental and Control Groups (70 in each Group). The Experimental-Group included those pregnant females who were advised to consume seven dates per day from 35 weeks onwards till the spontaneous onset of labour. In contrast, the Control-Group comprised primigravidae who did not consume dates in later pregnancy. Results: Spontaneous onset of labour was reported in 59(84.2%) pregnant women of the Experimental-Group compared to 43(61.4%) of Control-Group. 55(78.5%) pregnant women who consumed date fruit had a spontaneous vaginal delivery, 4(5.7%) required instrumental delivery, and 11(15%) ended up having a caesarean section, whereas 43 out of 70(61.4%) women of the Control-Group had a spontaneous vaginal delivery, 6(8.5%) had an instrumental vaginal delivery, and 21(30%) underwent a cesarean section. Conclusion: The patients who had consumed date fruit in later pregnancy had an improved Bishop score at the onset of labour, a shorter duration of labour, a lesser need for induction and augmentation of labour and more spontaneous vaginal deliveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional methods of open sun curing were used for postharvest processing of dates but, the desired quality of fruit could not be achieved due to adverse effects of dust storms and rain spells at ripening and curing stage of fruits. Covering fruit bunches with bags were also not productive and profitable; therefore, the growers switched to solar tunnel drying but couldn't get the required results. The protocols of using solar tunnels needed fine-tuning of temperature and relative air humidity, which affect fruit quality. During dates' drying process high temperature and low humidity is required. This research was conducted at Arid Zone Research Center, D.I. Khan, Pakistan for quick and safe ripening of date fruits under controlled conditions. For ripening of date fruits, 35 ± 5°C temperature and 80 ± 5% relative humidity; and for drying, 45 ± 50C temperature and 30 ± 5% relative humidity levels were kept constant. The moisture contents were reduced to recommended moisture of 23-25% for shelf life stability. Data for fresh date production ranged from 39-59% of the initial value. Minimum (39%) and maximum (59%) fresh date yields were recorded in cv. Gulistan and Shakri, respectively. Similarly, minimum and maximum produce recorded in dry dates were 32 and 50% in Gol Basara and Zahidi, respectively. Maximum and minimum length observed were 5.2 cm and 2.5 cm in Dhakki and Gol Basra, respectively. Economic analysis revealed that processing of fresh dates fetched more money than dry dates for most of the popular varieties. However, Dhakki date being more preferred due to its unique taste and the highest fruit yield and the biggest fruit size; needs curing under controlled conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to assess the knowledge level of the farmers for producing, processing and marketing of dates in Panjgur-Balochistan, Pakistan. Snowball sampling technique was used to select 90 respondents. The data revealed that average age of the farmers was 53.9 years with education from secondary to graduate level. The results of the study showed that many of the farmers on average have 10 acres of land under date palm cultivation with more than 57 date palm trees per acre on average. It is also observed that respondents generally get 76 kg of dates on average per tree. Many of the farmers use Radio and contact farmers as sources of knowledge for agricultural practices and date palm cultivation. However, more than 68% of the respondents do not get advisory services from government extension service institutions at all. Age and experience are significantly correlated variables with r = 0.951 at 1% alpha level. Results from regression analysis revealed that age, education and experience are strong predictors in the model to increase the knowledge level of the respondents for production, processing and marketing of the dates in district Panjgur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to examine prospect trends of dates area and production in Pakistan by using time series data from 1980-81 to 2012-13 (32 years).Three accuracy measures were used for the selection of best fitted model. These accuracy measures are mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean absolute deviation (MAD) and mean squared deviation (MSD). Double exponential trend was located to be best fitted model among other five models (linear trend, quadratic trend, exponential growth, s-curve and moving average) for estimating predicted values of area and production of dates for upcoming seven years. The estimated values of area and production represent increasing trend were 2.2, 93.8, 95.5, 97.2, 98.0, 100.6 and 102.3 '000' hectares and 548.5, 556.0, 563.5, 571.0, 578.5, 585.9 and 593.4 '000' tonnes from 2013-14 to 2019-20, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was designed to characterize ajwa flesh and pits and make their comparison with locally available date cultivars. Correlation between proximate characteristics and within different minerals was analyzed while cluster analysis technique was used to evaluate similarity between sugar contents of date varieties. The results indicated ajwa flesh as richest source of moisture (22.8 %), ash (3.22 %), glucose (54.5%), fructose (52.03%), maltose (22.5%), and galactose (12 .2%) contents while ajwa pits have highest amounts of crude fat (7.8%), crude fiber(51%), TDF(53.9%), IDF(34.6), and SDF(19.5%). Highly significant correlation of crude fat with crude fiber and crude protein was observed while crude protein also exhibited positive correlation with crude fiber. Date flesh was found better source of mineral as compared to pits whereas potassium was found rich in both parts. Highly significant negative correlation of Na and positive correlation of Zn and Ca with all other minerals was observed. Cluster analysis of sugar suggests highest similarity of fructose, maltose and galactose and least similarity of sucrose under cluster III and cluster I. The work identifies variability among flesh and pits of ajwa date and local date varieties for their nutritional traits that can be used in fortification of different food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date fruit contains a wide range of metals, including essential and toxic elements. The aim of present study was to explore the amount of essential metals in branch, pericarp and seed of the date fruit in order to examine correlation of these metals at various maturity stages. The studied parts are generally considered as waste. Therefore, levels of essential elements such as Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn and Zn were determined in the branch, pericarp and seed of three date varieties (Dallay wari, Noori and Khaki wari) at four ripening stages (kimri, khalal, rutab and tamar) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Oven dried samples were digested separately in HNO3 and H2O2 following wet acid digestion method. Analytical results shows that Na, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Mn were not detected in branch, pericarp and seed in Dallay wari variety at tamar stage, while Na and Mn were also absent in branch of Noori at tamar stage, whereas Mn was present in pericarp and seed at tamar stage of Noori variety. However, Mg was not detected in branch and pericarp at rutab and tamar, while Fe was not detected in pericarp at rutab and tamar stage in Khaki wari vareity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of pollination at different day time in date cv. Dhakki were investigated at Date-palm Research Orchard, Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan during 2008-2009. The six spathes on the selected Dhakki trees were pollinated at one hour interval from 8 am to 4 pm. Data were recorded for fruit set (%), fruit weight (g), fruit length (cm), fruit breadth (cm), fruit drop (%) and yield (kg). Pollination at different day time had significant effect on the fruit setting and other quality parameters. The highest fruit set of 91% and 89.87%, fruit weight of 18.00 g and 18.34 g, fruit length of 4.75 cm and 4.72 cm and fruit thickness of 2.89 cm and 2.61 cm in both years were recorded when pollination was carried out at 12:00 pm. A consistent trend was observed during the two years. Pollination carried out at 12:00 pm found to be the most effective for getting better yield, fruit setting and fruit size. In addition, positive and significant correlation was observed among different parameters, which can provide basis for further improvement in yield and quality of dates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elemental patterns are often used for the classification or identification of date fruit varieties. Five ripening stages of six date varieties were collected and studied from the pre ripening to the post ripening stage. Pollinated and non-pollinated date fruit of the same varieties were compared for their physical and chemical parameters. Physical parameters such as size, mass, colour, moisture, and pH were measured. In case of chemical characteristics the mineral composition of six different varieties of district Khairpur dates palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit (Gorho, Asul Khurmo, Nur Aseel, Ghuray Wari, Toto, and Allah Wari) were analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Generally, size, moisture and mineral content of the pollinated fruit increased up to 3rd and 4th stage then declined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dates can be consumed at three stages: at the fully-ripe stage (khalal), when partially overripe (rutab), and at the fully overripe stage (tamar). Only the latter stage of dry dates i.e., tamar are traditionally stored for future consumption and processing. However, with the introduction of freeze-storage in rural date palm cultivation areas, prolonged storage in freezers has been gaining popularity as it allows for the consumption of all three stages at any time of the year. The effects of prolonged freezestorage on date physical and chemical quality attributes were assessed in this study. Dates were collected at three ripening stages (i.e., khalal, rutab & tamar) from 8-years old date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) grown in northern Oman and subjected to storage at -18°C in a conventional freezer. Fruit quality data were collected at harvest, after 6 months and 10 months of storage. The results showed that prolonged freezing affected fruit physical and chemical quality at different ripening stages. Physical attributes such as flesh and seed weights were reduced during freeze-storage, while percentage of flesh to seed and fruit volume was not affected by freezing. Moreover, storage up to 6 months produced the highest total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH and biomass for all ripening stages. Rutab stage maintained high fruit volume, flesh and seed weights during storage. Whereas, tamar stage had the highest total soluble sugars, titratable acidity but the lowest pH, TSS: TA ratio, pectin and biomass. No interaction between ripening stages and storage duration was found in this study. Results suggest that prolonged freeze-storage is a viable alternative that allows for the consumption of dates at three stages of ripening compared to conventional storage of only dry dates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]