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Given its very important economic and environmental interests, the cultivation of carob tree in Algeria has experienced remarkable development, which is reflected in the methods of plant multiplication, the increase in the surface area of its cultivation, and in particular, the growing number of carob fruit processing industries (first and second transformation). In this context, the present study focused on the evaluation of the food quality of whole pod powders and carob pulps from three different regions of Algeria (Boumerdes, Relizane, and Tissemsilt). The experimental part presents a morphobiometric characterisation of carob pods carried out during the 2020–2021 production campaign — length, width, mass, volume, thickness, size index (length/width), the number and mass of seeds, analysis of the food quality of carob powders from whole pods and their pulps and determining their physicochemical properties (particle size, pH and dry matter), nutritional properties (ash, crude proteins, total sugars, crude fibres, fats) and sensory (colour, taste, texture, and smell). The results showed that the morphobiometric characteristics of the carob pods studied (physicochemical, nutritional, and sensory properties of the powders) strongly depend on the biogeographical site of the carob tree and the conditions of its production. Compared to the other carob fruit powders analysed, Relizane carob pulps powder showed a better sensory appreciation; this powder was characterised by a colour (100% light brown), taste (50% sweet, 50% very sweet), texture (100% fine), and odour (100% carob with strong intensity). Indeed, the study of the food quality of the two types of powders obtained separately from whole pods (seeds and pulps) and from the pulps is very valuable and opens possible ways of food valorisation of carob tree fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 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). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]