Impact of sun exposure on the quality of ‘Ghars’ dates in Southern Algeria

Climate change is a major challenge for agriculture, affecting the production and quality of fruit crops, including dates from the date palm. This study aims to evaluate the effects of temperature and exposure to solar radiation on the quality of ‘Ghars’ dates in the Hassi El Garra region of Southern Algeria. The methodology adopted includes a morphological, physicochemical, and phytochemical characterization of dates from branchs oriented towards the East and the West. The morphological parameters studied include fruit and pit length and width, total mass, and pulp proportion. Physicochemical analyses focus on pH, water content, ash content, and total and reducing sugar levels. Phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, and antioxidant activity were evaluated using spectrophotometric methods. The results show that morphological parameters do not differ significantly between the East and West-facing bunches. However, dates exposed to the West, having undergone more intense heat, exhibit lower moisture content, higher ash and total sugar content, and a greater concentration of polyphenols and superior antioxidant activity. These observations suggest that solar exposure influences fruit dehydration and concentrating of bioactive compounds. This preliminary study highlights the significant impact of climatic conditions on date quality.