author(s)
Nisar Ahmed Mallah, Hakim Ali Sahito, Tasneem Kousar, Waheed Ali Kubar, Faheem Ahmed Jatoi and Zafar Hussain Shah

abstract
The date palm fruit is a very important source of nutrients and cash crop of Sindh, Pakistan because of ideal climatic conditions for cultivation. The commercially important varieties are grown namely; Kupro, Karbalian, Aseel, Fasly and Dadhi and research study was carried out under laboratory conditions from August, 2015 to April, 2016 in relation to sugar, moisture and ash contents. The highest sugar content and moisture observed in Kupro was 85.90% and 23% whereas; lowest was 65.50% and 10% in Aseel and Dadhi dry varieties. During storage process these varieties were infested by Saw tooth grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.,). The maximum mean infestation was recorded 40.42% on Kupro and minimum 22.85% on Aseel and Dadhi (dry dates). The mean infestation is positively correlated with sugar and moisture content. The study revealed that Kupro and Karbalian semi-dry varieties were more attractive to pest as compared to Aseel and Dadhi dry, the reason might be because of attraction toward high sugar and moisture contents.