Abstract:
The main goals of this study was to compare nutritional value of Barakawi fruits as dry date cultivar with that of Mishrigi-Wdkhateeb fruits as semi-wet date cultivar. Therefore, the chemical composition, minerals content and energy value of both cultivars were studied.
The results obtained in this study showed that, the contents of dry matter , protein, fat, total carbohydrates, crude fiber, ash, total sugar and caloric value in both date cultivars ranged between 81.21 – 94.80 %, 02.17 – 05.70 %, 00.91 – 01.52 %, 89.73 – 94.37%, 05.97 – 06.76%, 02.55 – 03.06%, 69.20 – 86.27% and 376.66 – 380.22 k. cal./ 100 g, on dry weight basis.
The results showed significant variations between Barakawi and Mishrigi-Wdkhateeb date fruits cultivars. Barakawi date fruits cultivar had the higher concentrations of dry matter (94.80 %), total carbohydrates (94.37%), available carbohydrates (88.40 %), non-reducing sugars (44.51%) and energy (380.22 k. cal. /100 g). whereas, Mishrigi-Wdkhateeb date fruits cultivar had the higher concentrations of protein (05.70%), total sugars (86.27%), reducing sugars (60.44%), glucose (25.48%) and fructose (32.20%), on dry weight basis.
But, when comparing the minerals content of both date cultivars per 100g pulp, Mishrigi-Wdkhateeb date fruits had the higher concentrations of potassium (160.26 mg), sodium (17.01 mg) and magnesium (02.22 mg), while Barakawi date fruits had the higher concentrations of calcium (129.75) per 100 g dry matter. Ingeneral, both Mishrigi-Wdkhateeb and Barakawi date cultivars were found with low concentrations of iron, magnesium and zinc which ranged between 03.70 – 03.06, 02.22 – 01.16 and 02.10 – 01.27 mg/ 100g dry matter in Mishrigi-Wdkhateeb and Barakawi dates, respectively.
