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Date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) are by far the most important food crop produced in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The country is ranked as the second largest producer of date fruits in the world with 1,122,820 metric tons annual production (FAO, 2016). The fruit becomes ripe and edible in two stages, namely the Rutab and the Tamr stages. Rutab contains 35 to 40% moisture and 45 to 48% sugars (dry matter basis) while Tamr contains 10 to 15% moisture and 60 to 88% sugars (dry matter basis) (Barreveld, 1993). Hence Tamr is generally regarded as stable while Rutab is highly susceptible to microbial spoilage. Studies on the microbiological contamination and spoilage of date fruits are limited. Reports on microbial contamination of Tamr describe aerobic mesophilic bacteria, yeasts, molds, coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus flavus and lactic acid bacteria as the main contaminants (Bolin et al., 1972; Abu-Zinada and Ali, 1982; El-Sherbeeny et al., 1985; Nussinovitch et al., 1989; Aidoo et al., 1996; Shenasi et al., 2002). Little work is done on the microbial spoilage of date fruits, which is mainly caused by molds, yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (Hamad, 2012; Hamad, 2008; Kader, 2007). Though yeasts are described as important spoilage agents of date Rutab, no reports about pathogenic yeasts associated with this fruit are found in the literature cited. Candidiasis, caused by yeasts, usually occurs in persons with impaired immune response or when the normal body microflora is suppressed (e.g. by antibiotics). The disease affects mucosa, outer skin and sometimes inner organs of the human body such as the mouth and vagina (Kayser et al., 2005; Singleton and Sainsbury, 1997). Candida albicans infects human bodies, especially the skin and the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, causing the majority of Candida bloodstream infections (candidemia) (Pfaller et al., 2006). Candida krusei is related to diarrhea in young children and occasionally to systemic diseases. It is reported to colonize gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinary tracts of humans (Rippon, 1988), and was also isolated from foods like beer, milk products, pickle brine, and from skins and feces of animals and birds (Kreger-Va, 1984). This study was carried out to investigate the presence of potential pathogenic yeasts among the spoilage microflora of date fruits at the Rutab stage.

POTENTIAL PATHOGENIC YEASTS ISOLATED FROM FRESH DATE FRUITS (RUTAB)