Effect of Packing and Some Irradiation Doses on Quality and Composition of Gondaila Date Fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.) During Storage

THIS investigation was done to evaluate the quality of Gondaila dates during storage at room temperature for periods 0, 4, 8, and 12 months using packing normal and under vacuum only, and with irradiation treatment at doses of 1 and 2 KGy. Results indicated that the packed under vacuum sample is more effective for preventing insect infestation (15.00±1.00%) than the packed normal sample (29.41±1.00%), while the packed under vacuum sample with irradiation by dose 2 KGy, recorded the lowest rate of infestation (10.52±1.00%) at the end of the storage duration. On the contrary, the moisture, protein, fiber, and fat in all samples declined during storage; the greatest reduction was recorded for moisture during the first four months of storage, and the maximum decreases in moisture, protein, and fiber contents were found after 12 months of storage in the two control samples (PN and PUV). Besides that, the total and reducing sugars in all samples increased gradually, and the non-reducing sugar content decreased as storage duration increased. The data disclosed that total bacterial counts, molds, and yeasts immediately declined after irradiation and remained at a low count in irradiated treated samples until the end of storage duration; irradiated samples by a dose of 2 KGy had the lowest microbial counts. The organoleptic evaluations showed that the doses used had no detectable negative effect on preference for irradiated date fruit samples; a dose of 1 KGy occupied the first rank in overall acceptability.