English abstract
Selected chemical composition of Khalas variety of date flesh was measured at its Tamr stage of maturity. The water content was found to be 28.4% (wet basis) and solids contained mainly fructose and glucose, which were 21.9 and 29.4% (wet basis), respectively. Instrumental Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) of date flesh at tamr stage of maturity was measured as a function of moisture content and water activity. Hardness, chewiness, resilience, and gumminess increased exponentially with the decrease of moisture content, whereas adhesiveness, cohesiveness and springiness increased exponentially with the decrease of moisture content and showed a maximum value at critical moisture content 21.5% (wet basis). Below the critical moisture content, there was a sharp decrease in the attribute values. The trends or curvature above and below the peaks are different for cohesiveness, adhesiveness, and springiness. During pull-off period after first compression either adhesive or cohesive failure was observed depending on the moisture content in the sample.
