Dates ─ Production, Processing, Food, and Medicinal Values

Of the many varieties of date palms, the species Phoenix dactylifera Linn. is cultivated extensively and traded and consumed worldwide. Dates: Production, Processing, Food, and Medicinal Values draws from a broad spectrum of contributors to present a comprehensive survey of this particular species. The book explores a range of essential facets of what many consider to be a wonder plant—from its cultivation to its potential for medicinal purposes.

Divided into four parts, the book begins by examining cultural practices and their implications for date quality. The contributors discuss tissue culture studies, farm water management, mechanization approaches in pollination and harvesting operations, and marketing aspects. The second section focuses on postharvest operations such as drying and explores alternatives for methyl bromide fumigation and value-added products. It also reviews biofuel production from by-products and discusses the issue of waste generated from industry.

The third part of the book highlights the physical, chemical, and structural characteristics of dates. It reviews fermentative products that use dates as substrate, discusses the fruits as a substitute for added sugar in food, and explores date palm feeding to livestock. The final section discusses the possibilities for nutritional and medicinal use and reviews the use of dates in indigenous medicine.

Exploring essential properties and agricultural implications, this volume is a reliable resource for understanding the many aspects of the Phoenix dactylifera Linn.

Dr. Manickavasagan obtained a PhD in Biosystems Engineering from the University of Manitoba, Canada. He is a licensed Professional Engineer (PEng) in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. After attaining his PhD, he worked with McCain Foods Limited (Canada) as a Scientist. Presently, he is an Assistant Professor at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. He has published more than 50 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.

Dr. M. Mohamed Essa obtained a PhD in Biochemistry from Annamalai University, India and did Post doctoral research in Neurosciences in NYSIBR, New York, USA. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman and Visiting Assistant Professor in Neuropharmacology group, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. He conducts research in pharmacological approaches of natural products against neurological diseases by using various available models. He has published nearly 55 research articles in various peer-reviewed international journals and conferences and is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Nutrition, Pharmacology, Neurological Diseases published by Wolters-Kluwer, USA.
Dr. Ethirajan Sukumar obtained PhD in Phytochemistry and Phytobiology from the University of Madras,India and did Postdoctoral work at the University of Virginia in the USA. He is an Assistant Professor at the Higher College of Technology, Muscat, Oman. Prior to full time teaching, he was a Research Scientist in the Central Research Institute of Siddha Medicine in Chennai, India for more than 26 years. During his research career, he worked on medicinal plants used in indigenous medical practices and published 52 research papers in peer-reviewed journals.

ProductionAn Overview of Date Palm Production; R. Al-Yahyai and A. ManickavasaganTissue Culture Studies in Date Palm; S. A. Farooq, R. S. Khan, and T.T. FarookThe Date Palm Genome Project at Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; X. Zhang, J. Tan, M. Yang, Y. Yin, I. S. Al-Mssallem, and J. YuWater Management in Date Palm Groves; M. Mumtaz Khan and S. A. PrathaparFertilizer Application in Date Palm Cultivation; A. Al-BusaidiEnvironmental Concern in Date Palm Production from Atmospheric Trace Metal Contamination; S. H. Al-Rawahy and H. SulaimanSalinity Problems and Their Management in Date Palm Production; N. Hussain, S. Al-Rasbi, N. S. Al-Wahaibi, G. A. Rehman Al-Ghanum, and O. El-Sharief AbdallaInsects in Date Palm Field and Their Management; M. Ali Al-DeebMechanization in Date Palm Pollination; A. MostaanDesign Concepts for Date-Harvesting Process; H. P. W. JayasuriyaDates Marketing; M. Daudi MbagaProcessingDrying Characteristics, Rehydration, and Color Changes of Palm Fruits During Storage; K. O. Falade and E. S. AbboSolar Tunnel Dryer: A Novel Dryer for Dates; M. A. Basunia and H. H. HandaliProcessing of Dates by Dehydration and Microwave Drying; D. G. Rao, T. Hariharan, and S. FerozQuality Assessment of Dates by Computer Vision Technology; A. Manickavasagan and R. Al-YahyaiNonchemical Methyl Bromide Alternatives in Dates’ Processing Sector; M. A. El MohandesProcessing of Dates into Value-Added Products; P. Vijayanand and S. G. KulkarniExploring the Possibility of Biofuel Production from By-Products and Wastes Generated from Date Industry; D. Ramesh, S. Karthikeyan, and G. ChinnanchettyFoodPhysical Characteristics and Chemical Composition of Date Palm Fruits; N. Guizani and V. SinghSorption and Structural Characteristics of Date Palm Fruit; M. S. RahmanFermentative Products Using Dates as a Substrate; N. SivakumarDates: Potential Substitute for Added Sugar in Food; A. ManickavasaganUse of Date Palm By-Products in Feeding Livestock; O. Mahgoub, I. T. Kadim, and W. Al-MarzooqiMedicinal ValuesDates: A Fruit from Heaven; M. Qasim and S. A. NaqviThe Functional Values of Dates; M. Ali Al-Farsi and C. Yong LeeNutritional and Medicinal Value of Date Fruit; A. Ali, M. Waly, M. M. Essa, and S. DevarajanUses of Date Palm in Ayurveda; M. Shanmugapriya and K. PatwardhanDates in Indigenous Medicines of India; E. SukumarAntiamyloidogenic Effect of Dates Grown in Oman with Reference to Their Possible Protection against Alzheimer’s Disease; M. Mohamed Essa, G. J. Guillemin, S. Al-Adawi, A. Al-Asmi, R. Vaishnav, N. Ramachandiran, and M. A. MemonIndex