Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pollen source on the nutritional composition of seeds of the ‘Medjool’ date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) under conditions of northwest Mexico. The content of nutrients (protein, lipids, fiber, and ash), sugars (total, reducing, and non-reducing), and most abundant minerals, were evaluated, as well as antioxidant activities. The pollen of four cultivars (‘Deglet Noor’, ‘Khadrawy’, ‘Medjool’, and ‘Zahidi’) was selected. Four groups of three bunches were pollinated in each of the female palms. For the four treatments, the following ranges were obtained: Seeds had a weight of 1.32–1.41 g and low concentrations of protein (4.44–5.49 g/100 g) and lipids (9.62–10.19 g/100 g). The content of dietary fiber and ash was 59.65–72.59 g/100 g and 1.09–1.42 g/100 g, respectively. Total sugars content was 4.50–6.96 g/100 g, while the insoluble solids were 92.21–96.03 g/100 g. The predominant mineral was potassium with 399.97–459.79 mg/100 g dry weight, followed by sulfur with 135.51–162.67 mg/100 g dry weight. Finally, for antioxidant activities, DPPH (2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) assay results were 0.0014–0.0094 IC50 g/L and 0.176–0.299 IC50 g/L, respectively. The pollen sources had an effect on the physicochemical properties of the seeds of the ‘Medjool’ cultivar date. However, some of the parameters (diameter, total acidity, pH) did not show statistically significant differences. The pollen sources from the ‘Khadrawy’ and ‘Medjool’ cultivars were the ones that induced differences in physical, proximate, and nutritional parameters, while pollen from the ‘Zahidi’ source induced the largest differences for minerals. The results suggest that selection of the source of pollen has a significant effect on the nutritional properties of the date seed from the cultivar ‘Medjool’, and that its use could be feasible as a functional food or by-product of the date production.
Highlights
The fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is commercially cultivated in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world, playing an important role in the economic aspects of countries in the Middle East and North Africa [1]
The control had a significantly lower average diameter than that induced by the other pollen sources used in this study
Considering the results obtained in this study, it could be concluded that pollen sources from the
Summary
The fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is commercially cultivated in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world, playing an important role in the economic aspects of countries in the Middle East and North Africa [1]. The seed is usually oblong and ventrally grooved, containing a small embryo and a hard endosperm [2]. Date seeds have been studied, but little used, and are still considered as an agricultural waste in many developing countries [3]. The date seed constitutes between 6 and 18% of the total weight of a mature date [4,5], varying according to the variety and agroclimatic conditions of its cultivation. The seed contains sugars, appreciable amounts of minerals, high fiber content, and low contents of protein and fatty acids [6]. Oil extraction has been one of the main alternative uses of the date seed, with possible applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries [9]. The date seed has great value as an agent with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities [10]
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