Preharvest Fruit Drop of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Cv. Deglet Nour at Kimri Stage: Development, Physico-chemical Characterization, and Functional Properties

Abstract

This study addresses the development of unpollinated and pollinated flowers of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.). cv. Deglet Noor in three successive seasons (2015–2017), focusing on the physico-chemical characterization and functional properties of fruits at Kimri stage. Results showed for the first time that dropped fruits at Kimri stage have a clear beneficial action on human health compared even with Tamar stage, given its higher total polyphenols and antioxidant activity, 3 and 34 times superior to Tamar stage, respectively.