Anatomical Assessment of Skin Separation in Date Palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L. var. Mejhoul) Fruit during Maturation and Ripening Stages

Skin separation (puffiness) is a critical physiological disorder that significantly reduces the date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) fruit’s visual appearance and quality. The objectives of this study were to analyze fruit anatomy in skin-separated and normal date palm (var. Mejhoul) fruit and to assess the microclimatic conditions (temperature and relative humidity) during the fruit developmental stages and their association with skin separation. Fruit anatomy analysis was carried at different growth stages (Kimri-Khalal, Khalal, Rutab and Tamr) for two growing seasons. In addition, microclimatic conditions (specifically, temperature, and relative humidity) as well as soil moisture content were assessed across the study period 2020 and 2021. The anatomical analysis of the date palm fruit revealed that the exocarp or skin (cuticle, epidermis, hypodermis) thickness were quite similar across the developmental stages and over the study period (2020, 2021). Conversely, significantly more sclereid cells were found in skin-separated fruit (compared to normal fruit) at the Tamr stage. At that stage (Tamr), the percentage increase in sclereid cell number in skin-separated fruit ranged from 34–183%, sclereid clusters number 23–92%, cluster area 37–206%, and cluster perimeter 25–64%, as compared to normal fruit. In addition, sclereid cells at skin-separated areas of the fruit were clustered together, forming a chain of aggregates underneath the fruit skin, and were closer (42–50%, than normal) to the cuticle, leading to the partial separation of the exocarp from the fruit mesocarp. Although the weather data were similar across the growing seasons (temperatures, 33–34 °C; relative humidity, 45–46%), skin separation occurred in 14–15% of total fruit in 2020 and 30–34% in 2021. Therefore, we believe that skin separation disorder is not as heavily weather dependent as it seems to have been thought. In conclusion, changes in microclimate conditions were not the conclusive component for inducing the skin separation physiological disorder in date palm fruit. Further studies are required to identify the main factors that stimulate the development of sclereid clusters aggregates and the potential of agricultural practices to reduce skin separation.