Study the effect of postharvest heat treatment on infestation rate of fruit date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars grown in Algeria

Abstract

Effect of heat treatment (55°C/20 min) on infestation rate was investigated in Algerian dates (Deglet Nour variety) at Tamar (fully ripe) stage and in dates stored for 5 months at ambient temperature and in cold storage (10°C). Results obtained showed a variable percentage of rate infestation. These rate decreased weakly as the fruit advanced in storage at ambient temperature, whereas, they are less high in heat treated and cold stored dates. Heat treatment did show a significant effect on infestation variation. Deglet Nour dates showed that there was a decrease in rate infestation during storage for either heat treated dates samples. Whereas, rate infestation was weaker in chilled dates comparatively to those stored at ambient temperature. Rate infestation showed a similar trend where a decrease was observed in all samples during storage, particularly in heat treated dates. In all cases, heat treatment seems to benefit reducing rate infestation, whereas a relative stability in rate infestation was noted. Keywords: Postharvest; Heat treatment; Infestation; Date palm; Phoenix dactylifera L.