Quality preservation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits at the Khalal stage: a review on current challenges, preservation methods, and future trends
Date palm fruits have great commercial value and spiritual and cultural significance in multiple countries due to their high nutritional value and various health benefits. Some popular date varieties such as Barhi, Hayani, Samany, and Zaghlol are harvested at the Khalal stage due to their unique org...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1558985/full |
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| author | Nashi K. Alqahtani Nashi K. Alqahtani Salim A. Ali Tareq M. Alnemr |
| author_facet | Nashi K. Alqahtani Nashi K. Alqahtani Salim A. Ali Tareq M. Alnemr |
| author_sort | Nashi K. Alqahtani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Date palm fruits have great commercial value and spiritual and cultural significance in multiple countries due to their high nutritional value and various health benefits. Some popular date varieties such as Barhi, Hayani, Samany, and Zaghlol are harvested at the Khalal stage due to their unique organoleptic properties, including crunchy texture, delicious taste, and attractive color; therefore, they have a great consumer demand and significant market relevance. However, dates at the Khalal stage are facing three issues: (1) they are perishable due to the higher moisture and sugar content, (2) they are rapidly converted from the Khalal to Rutab stage (ripening), and (3) the short picking season, where huge quantities of the fruits reach the horticultural ripening during a short time. Therefore, delaying ripening, maintaining freshness, preventing spoilage, and extending the shelf-life represent the major challenges at the Khalal stage. Accordingly, this review discussed the main factors responsible for quality loss and shelf-life shortening of Khalal dates. Preservation methods, research needs, and future trends were also discussed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-de796dda2601461fa1215f85a5571a4c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2571-581X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems |
| spelling | doaj-art-de796dda2601461fa1215f85a5571a4c2025-08-20T02:24:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems2571-581X2025-04-01910.3389/fsufs.2025.15589851558985Quality preservation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits at the Khalal stage: a review on current challenges, preservation methods, and future trendsNashi K. Alqahtani0Nashi K. Alqahtani1Salim A. Ali2Tareq M. Alnemr3Date Palm Research Center of Excellence, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Food and Nutrition Sciences, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaDate Palm Research Center of Excellence, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Food and Nutrition Sciences, College of Agricultural and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi ArabiaDate palm fruits have great commercial value and spiritual and cultural significance in multiple countries due to their high nutritional value and various health benefits. Some popular date varieties such as Barhi, Hayani, Samany, and Zaghlol are harvested at the Khalal stage due to their unique organoleptic properties, including crunchy texture, delicious taste, and attractive color; therefore, they have a great consumer demand and significant market relevance. However, dates at the Khalal stage are facing three issues: (1) they are perishable due to the higher moisture and sugar content, (2) they are rapidly converted from the Khalal to Rutab stage (ripening), and (3) the short picking season, where huge quantities of the fruits reach the horticultural ripening during a short time. Therefore, delaying ripening, maintaining freshness, preventing spoilage, and extending the shelf-life represent the major challenges at the Khalal stage. Accordingly, this review discussed the main factors responsible for quality loss and shelf-life shortening of Khalal dates. Preservation methods, research needs, and future trends were also discussed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1558985/fulldate palmpost-harvest changesKhalal stageripeningpreservation |
| spellingShingle | Nashi K. Alqahtani Nashi K. Alqahtani Salim A. Ali Tareq M. Alnemr Quality preservation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits at the Khalal stage: a review on current challenges, preservation methods, and future trends Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems date palm post-harvest changes Khalal stage ripening preservation |
| title | Quality preservation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits at the Khalal stage: a review on current challenges, preservation methods, and future trends |
| title_full | Quality preservation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits at the Khalal stage: a review on current challenges, preservation methods, and future trends |
| title_fullStr | Quality preservation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits at the Khalal stage: a review on current challenges, preservation methods, and future trends |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quality preservation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits at the Khalal stage: a review on current challenges, preservation methods, and future trends |
| title_short | Quality preservation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits at the Khalal stage: a review on current challenges, preservation methods, and future trends |
| title_sort | quality preservation of date palm phoenix dactylifera l fruits at the khalal stage a review on current challenges preservation methods and future trends |
| topic | date palm post-harvest changes Khalal stage ripening preservation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1558985/full |
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