PJB-2025-406
Quality and safety evaluation of fresh and dried apricots of Tunisian and introduced cultivars
AMEL LACHKAR
Abstract
In Tunisia, the apricot production is about 40 800 tons in 2024with 32 961 tons as mean value along 16 years. The apricots are essentially consumed as fresh. Their quality is widely studied but few investigations about drying apricots and dried fruit quality are reported. For this reason, a new study in collaboration with GIZ was done in order to promote a value chain of dried apricots for export. Indeed, the ability of 10 apricot cultivars (local and introduced) for drying and consequently the fruit quality of fresh and dried apricots is investigated. Here, we analyze the sensory properties of the fresh apricots, the residues of pesticides and those of sulphur dioxide (SO2) in sun-dried apricots and we identify the relationship between some physico-chemical properties of fresh apricots and that of dried ones. The results showed a highly significant variation between the evaluated cultivars for most physico-sensory properties of fresh apricots. For most of the evaluated cultivars, the pesticides residues in dried apricots were under the European standards which approve the consumer health safety. Significant correlations were found between some physico-chemical properties of fresh apricots. Moreover, similar correlations were obtained for the sun-dried apricots. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that apricot cultivars were separated into six groups which each group is characterized by similar physico-chemical properties of fresh fruits and those of sun-dried ones. Hence, two local apricot cultivars ‘Sayeb’ and ‘Amor Leuch’ and three introduced ones ‘Golden’, ‘Precious’ and ‘Kasserine 2’ are able to be suitable for drying with high fruit quality (fresh and dried fruits).
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