Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruits are rich in various bioactive compounds, such as phenolic acids, hydroxycinnamates, flavonoid glycosides, coumarins, alkaloids, and proanthocyanidin oligomers. The focus of this study was to develop a simplex-centroid mix design method to identify the most suitable mixture of solvents (water, acetone, and methanol) to extract bioactive compounds from date fruits. Three extraction solvents (water, methanol, and acetone) were investigated during this study to determine, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant activity (free radical DPPH) and ferric reduction ability (FRAP). The results showed that polar mixtures were effective in extracting antioxidant phenolics. The optimum solvent for extraction was Binary mixture water-acetone (50%) presenting TPC, TFC, DPPH and FRAP values of 502.88 mg GAE.100 g^-1 DW, 206.23 mg QE.100 g^-1 DW, 77 0.01% and 1688.66 μmol.100 g^-1 respectively. The results also confirmed a strong correlation between the amount of polyphenols in a given extract and the antioxidant activities observed in the DPPH and FRAP assays. This study presents a pragmatic and efficient way to choose a solvent combination to extract polyphenols from date palm fruits.

Introduction: In hot arid regions, the productivity of certain date palm cultivars faces a significant challenge wherein non-fertilized flowers can give rise to parthenocarpic singular or triplet fruit.Aims: The aims of this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of delayed pollination on date palm yield and fruit quality, while also examining the influence of temperature on these processes.Methods: We conducted this research using 10 15-year-old ‘Assiane’ palm trees, all situated within the Figuig Oasis environment. Pollination was performed on the same day of spathe opening, as well as up to 16 days after the initial opening. Additionally, we utilized 30 palm trees to analyze the effect of daily average temperatures.Results and Discussion: Our findings reveal that the optimal period for achieving maximum yield and fruit quality falls between the sixth and eighth day following the cracking of the female spathe. Furthermore, we observed that relatively lower temperatures, ranging from 5 to 20°C, promote the formation of parthenocarpic fruits while inhibiting the development of normal fruits. Moreover, the insights gained from investigating these issues could have broader implications for date palm cultivation in arid regions and offer valuable lessons for the preservation of oasis ecosystems worldwide.

The quantification of water flow through the stem is vital for date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) to promote a good water stress management. The thermal dissipation probe (TDP) method developed by Granier is widely used to evaluate transpiration of forest trees; however, there are contradictory reports regarding its reliability. Considerable errors in estimated sap flux density, which might be due to a lack ofspecies-specific calibrations. The TDP method uses a mathematical model that is based on an empirical equation to estimate sap flux density, which is claimed to be applicable to all tree species, independently of wood structure and anatomy. At the laboratory, we compared the rate of water uptake by cut stems with sap flux estimates derived from the TDP method to assess the validity of the method.Our calibration results were considerably different compared to the Granier’s original equation. Moreover, sap flux density was overestimated by 18.2 ± 0.5% when the original calibration parameters of Granierare employed. However, using new calibration parameters improved the accuracy of sap flow measurements. Our results indicated that it is not appropriate to use a general equation for different species. Therefore, previous estimations of date palm’s water requirement through thermal dissipation probes should be revised.

Asynchronous flowering between male and female date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) makes pollen storage a practical necessity for growers, especially for cultivars like ‘Mejhoul’, which require artificial pollination. This study examined the stainability of pollen as an indicator of cytoplasmic integrity, from four male date plant pollen donor genotypes (‘Mejhoul’, ‘Deglet Nour’, ‘Khadrawy’, and ‘Zahidi’) stored at 4 °C for different durations (fresh, one-year, and two-year storage) and their effects on fruit set and physical fruit characteristics of the Mejhoul cultivar in Mexico. Pollen stainability was assessed in vitro using 1% acetocarmine. Fruit and seed set percentages were evaluated as indicators of the practical effectiveness of stored pollen under field conditions, but not as direct measures of viability. Results showed that fresh pollen exhibited the highest stainability (91.2–95.6%), followed by one-year-stored pollen (59.4–68.3%), and two-year-stored pollen (38.8–45.4%). Fruit set percentages were highest with fresh pollen (63.8–81.7%), decreasing with storage duration. ‘Deglet Nour’ pollen consistently showed superior compatibility with ‘Mejhoul’ females. Physical fruit characteristics (weight, length, diameter) and seed traits were minimally affected by reduced pollen stainability, indicating that there were enough viable grains for effective pollination. The study also observed Metaxenia and Xenia effects, where pollen genotypes influenced fruit and seed size. Overall, these findings suggest that pollen stored at 4 °C for short and medium terms can be used in Mejhoul production, but longer storage significantly reduces efficacy, recommending sub-zero temperatures for extended preservation.

The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a significant perennial crop in arid and semi-arid regions. Understanding the evolution of research on this crop is vital for identifying major research trends, current challenges, and emerging areas for future agricultural innovation and sustainable crop management strategies. This study conducts a comprehensive scientometric analysis of 9062 scientific publications indexed in the Scopus database between 1837 and 2025, spanning nearly two centuries of research on date palm. Using bibliometric tools such as Bibliometrix and ScientoPy, the study examines patterns of scientific production, collaboration networks, institutional participation, thematic evolution, and emerging research trends. The results indicate a marked increase in scientific publications, especially after 2007, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Iran among the most productive countries. The thematic structure of the literature shows a shift from early studies on diseases and oasis cultivation to recent research focusing on biomass valorization, activated carbon production, antioxidant properties, pest management with special emphasis on the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), mechanical properties of date palm fibers, and plant biotechnology on methods like micropropagation and somatic embryogenesis. Geographically, research activity is concentrated in the Middle East and North Africa, the primary palm-producing region, with Saudi Arabia leading in institutions, researchers, funding, and international collaborations in date palm research. Emerging trends indicate a rising interest in digital tools, particularly artificial intelligence and advanced analytical tools, which are increasingly being explored to improve crop management. Overall, these findings provide a structured overview of the historical development of date palm research and contribute to a deeper understanding of the evolution and organization of scientific knowledge in this field. Additionally, the identification of key research pathways and emerging trends offers valuable insights for guiding future agronomic innovation, supporting evidence-based crop management strategies, and promoting the sustainable development of date palm production systems.