Fruiting and Productivity of the Argan (Argania spinosa) Tree and Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Its Early and Late Fruits from Western Algeria
ABSTRACTThe Argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) (Skeels)) is a woody species endemic to Algeria (Tindouf region mostly) and Morocco. It is a plant species of oleo-agro-sylvo-pastoral and ecological importance as it contributes to the fight against desertification and climate change. Moreover, the seed...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Fruit Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15538362.2023.2239939 |
| _version_ | 1797389900522192896 |
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| author | Zohra Benaouf Reda Kechairi Oussama Djorf Mohamed Larbi Kies |
| author_facet | Zohra Benaouf Reda Kechairi Oussama Djorf Mohamed Larbi Kies |
| author_sort | Zohra Benaouf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACTThe Argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) (Skeels)) is a woody species endemic to Algeria (Tindouf region mostly) and Morocco. It is a plant species of oleo-agro-sylvo-pastoral and ecological importance as it contributes to the fight against desertification and climate change. Moreover, the seed is used for extracting oil, which has high dietic and cosmetic qualities. In this work, the fruit harvest period and Argania spinosa productivity are related to the phenological process of flowering and fruiting. Our results show that the experimental argan trees of Mostaganem bloom late to be pollinated in the spring and remain dormant throughout the summer, in contrast to the endemic Tindouf trees that bloom early in September, bear fruit and ripen in the same season. This explains why that the fruits of the Tindouf region are the richest compared to the fruits of the other two regions. Our study shows that the pulp always contains more than almonds, as the oil was extracted and analyzed, the pulp is the fraction richest in phenols, while almond is the poorest fraction (3.43 ± 0.72 mg/g, 1.34 ± 0.03 mg/g), the same thing goes for the total flavonoid content (9 ± 0.5 mg/g, 2.83 ± 0.14 mg/g). The greatest activity was recorded in the fruits of Tindouf. As for the components of the fruit, the highest activity was recorded in the pulps then the almonds and the lowest in the oil (502 ± 11.42 g, 216 ± 8.43 g, 174 ± 3.61 g), respectively. Concerning primary metabolites, the fruit is rich (the almond is rich in proteins, the pulp is rich in sugar and the oil is rich in lipids). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:02:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b1a8a356f74240038af9b4c318cfc024 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1553-8362 1553-8621 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T23:02:47Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Fruit Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-b1a8a356f74240038af9b4c318cfc0242023-12-15T14:46:52ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Fruit Science1553-83621553-86212023-12-0123115116410.1080/15538362.2023.2239939Fruiting and Productivity of the Argan (Argania spinosa) Tree and Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Its Early and Late Fruits from Western AlgeriaZohra Benaouf0Reda Kechairi1Oussama Djorf2Mohamed Larbi Kies3Research Laboratory in Geo Environment and Spatial Development LGEDE, University of Mustapha Stambouli Mascara, Mascara, AlgeriaLaboratory of Ecology and Management of Natural Ecosystems n°13, Department of Ecology and Environment, Faculty SNV/STU, University of Abou Bekr Belkaid Tlemcen, Tlemcen, AlgeriaLaboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Free University of Brussels, Brussels, BelgiumLaboratory of Plant Ecology and Environment, USTHB University, Algiers, AlgeriaABSTRACTThe Argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) (Skeels)) is a woody species endemic to Algeria (Tindouf region mostly) and Morocco. It is a plant species of oleo-agro-sylvo-pastoral and ecological importance as it contributes to the fight against desertification and climate change. Moreover, the seed is used for extracting oil, which has high dietic and cosmetic qualities. In this work, the fruit harvest period and Argania spinosa productivity are related to the phenological process of flowering and fruiting. Our results show that the experimental argan trees of Mostaganem bloom late to be pollinated in the spring and remain dormant throughout the summer, in contrast to the endemic Tindouf trees that bloom early in September, bear fruit and ripen in the same season. This explains why that the fruits of the Tindouf region are the richest compared to the fruits of the other two regions. Our study shows that the pulp always contains more than almonds, as the oil was extracted and analyzed, the pulp is the fraction richest in phenols, while almond is the poorest fraction (3.43 ± 0.72 mg/g, 1.34 ± 0.03 mg/g), the same thing goes for the total flavonoid content (9 ± 0.5 mg/g, 2.83 ± 0.14 mg/g). The greatest activity was recorded in the fruits of Tindouf. As for the components of the fruit, the highest activity was recorded in the pulps then the almonds and the lowest in the oil (502 ± 11.42 g, 216 ± 8.43 g, 174 ± 3.61 g), respectively. Concerning primary metabolites, the fruit is rich (the almond is rich in proteins, the pulp is rich in sugar and the oil is rich in lipids).https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15538362.2023.2239939Argan treefloweringfruitpulpalmondargan oil |
| spellingShingle | Zohra Benaouf Reda Kechairi Oussama Djorf Mohamed Larbi Kies Fruiting and Productivity of the Argan (Argania spinosa) Tree and Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Its Early and Late Fruits from Western Algeria International Journal of Fruit Science Argan tree flowering fruit pulp almond argan oil |
| title | Fruiting and Productivity of the Argan (Argania spinosa) Tree and Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Its Early and Late Fruits from Western Algeria |
| title_full | Fruiting and Productivity of the Argan (Argania spinosa) Tree and Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Its Early and Late Fruits from Western Algeria |
| title_fullStr | Fruiting and Productivity of the Argan (Argania spinosa) Tree and Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Its Early and Late Fruits from Western Algeria |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fruiting and Productivity of the Argan (Argania spinosa) Tree and Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Its Early and Late Fruits from Western Algeria |
| title_short | Fruiting and Productivity of the Argan (Argania spinosa) Tree and Evaluation of the Nutritional Value of Its Early and Late Fruits from Western Algeria |
| title_sort | fruiting and productivity of the argan argania spinosa tree and evaluation of the nutritional value of its early and late fruits from western algeria |
| topic | Argan tree flowering fruit pulp almond argan oil |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/15538362.2023.2239939 |
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