Table 1.

Characteristics of collected ripe date fruit samples reported in the studies included in this systematic review and meta-analysis (n = 22).

No.	Studies	Production country/local geographic location	Samples source	Harvest season	Date fruits quality	Types of selected cultivars
1	Mansouri et al., 2005	Algeria/Ghardaia	NA*	2002	NA	Tazizaout, Ougherouss, Akerbouche, Tazerzait, Tafiziouine, Deglet-Nour, Tantbouchte
2	Allaith, 2008	Bahrain/NA, Saudi Arabia/NA & Tunisia/NA	Retail local markets or private farms	2003 & 2004	NA	Hallaw, Khalas, Ruzaiz Khudhairy, Mabroom, Suffry Deglet nour
3	Abbas et al., 2008	Iran/Tehran	Dates distribution center	2006	Date fruits identical in terms of size, colour, ripening stage, without damaged and calamity	Honey, Kabkab, Bam, Jiroft, Piarom, Sahroon, Zahedi, Kharak
4	Biglari et al., 2008	Iran/Tehran	Dates distribution center	2006	Date fruits identical in terms of size, colour, ripening stage, without damaged and calamity	Jiroft, Bam, Kabkab, Honey, Sahroon, Piarom, Zahedi, Kharak
5	Saafi et al., 2009	Tunisia/Southern region	NA	2006	Date fruits of uniform size, free of physical damage and injury from insects and fungal infection	Khouet Kenta, Kentichi, Deglet Nour, Allig
6	Al-Turki et al., 2010	Saudi Arabia/NA & United States/Riverside, California	Private farms/USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Citrus & Dates	2006 & 2007	NA	Khalasa, Shaishi, Sukari, Gur, Khunizi Amir Hajj, Barhee, Deglet Noor, Halawy, Hayany, Hilali, Khadrawy, Khalasa, Medjool, Zahidi
7	Singh et al., 2012	Oman/NA	Retail local markets	2010	NA	Fardh, Khasab, Khalas
8	Mrabet et al., 2012	Tunisia/Gabès oasis	NA	2010	NA	Rochdi, Matteta, Korkobbi, Eguwa, Bouhattam, Mermella, Limsi, Kenta, Deglé Nour, Garen Gaze, Smeti
9	El Arem et al., 2012	Tunisia/Kébili	NA	2008	Date fruits free from defects and color uniformity	Gondi, Gasbi, Khalt Dhabi, Rtob Ahmar
10	Benmeddour et al., 2013	Algeria/Biskra	Station of Tolga	2009	Date fruits with uniform size, free of physical damage, insect’s injury and fungal infection	Mech Degla, Deglet Ziane, Deglet Nour, Thouri, Sebt Mira, Ghazi, Degla Beida, Arechti, Halwa, Itima
11	Kchaou et al., 2013	Tunisia/Tozeur	NA	NA	Second-grade date fruits, with texture defect (relatively hard)	Allig, Deglet Nour, Kentichi, Zehdi, Bejo, Baydh El-Hamam
12	Ghiaba et al., 2014	Algeria/Ouargla	NA	2010	NA	Degla Baidha, Deglet Nour, Ghars, Tamjhourt, Tafezauine
13	Lemine et al., 2014	Mauritania/Atar and Tijigja	NA	2013	NA	Ahmar dli, Ahmar denga, Bou seker, Tenterguel, Lemdina, Tijib
14	Al-Najada and Mohamed, 2014	Saudi Arabia/Jeddah	Retail local markets	NA	NA	Khalas, Shishi
15	Shahdadi et al., 2015	Iran/Jiroft	Dates distribution center	NA	Date fruits identical in term of ripening stages	Bam Mazfati, Jiroft Kalute
16	Hemmateenejad et al., 2015	Iran/Bushehr	Bushehr date research center	2010	Date fruits without damaging	Berehi, Mordasang, Shahabi, Mazafati, Kabkab, Khanizi, Medjool, Piarom, Halavi, Zahedi, Karoot, Rabbi
17	Haimoud et al., 2016	Algeria/El-Oued	NA	2012	Date dates with homogeneous size and without damage	Tantebouchte, Biraya, Degla Baidha, Deglet-Nour, Ali Ourached, Ghars, Tansine
18	Hamza et al., 2016	Tunisia/Jemna” oases	NA	2013	NA	Deglet Nour
19	Bouhlali et al., 2017	Morocco/Errachidia	Errachidia national institute for agricultural research	NA	NA	Boufgous, Bouskri, Bousrdon, Bousthammi, Bouzgagh, Jihl, Majhoul, Najda
20	Hachani et al., 2018**	Algeria/Ain Salah	NA	2015	Date fruits of uniform size, and free of physical damage	Clean Tinnaser, Agaz, Tamazouchete, Takarboucht, Takarmoust
21	Haider et al., 2018	Pakistan/Jhang	Date palm research station	NA	NA	Zehdi, Be-Rehmi, Neelum, Ko-Herba, Kozan Abad, Karblian, Jan-Sohar, Khadrawy I, Khadrawy II, Angoor
22	Souli et al., 2018	Tunisia/Tozeur	Private farms	2015	NA	Alig, Akwatte Alig, Ammarri, Beyd Hamem, Bejou, Besser Helou, Deglet Nour, Horra, Kenta, Kentichi

^*NA: Data is not available in the study.

^**Infected date caltivar (called Infected Tinnaser) was excluded.