Sugar contents and physical characters of six leading date cultivars of southern Libya

Abstract

Six leading dale cultivars (Taleese, Taghiat, Tasfert, Adwi, Aspear. and Scloulou) at tamar stage, were collected from Al-Shatie, Sebha, and Ubari districts of southern Libya. Analysis of sugars showed that reducing sugars were the dominant form of sugars in all cultivars. Non-reducing sugars were relatively low or absent. The percentages of total sugars for the different cultivars were. 66.5-75.5 for Adwi. 67.1-74.4 for Taghiat. 63.0 74.7 for Seloulou, 64.0 74.0 for Aspear. 62.5-71.9 for Tasfert, and 62.7 70.2 for Taleese. A general conclusion was drawn that Libyan dates were as good as world leading cultivars in their sugar content. Physical characters of the fruits were also taken into account