{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T07:58:31Z","timestamp":1785484711014,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":61,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785456000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":211,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,1]],"date-time":"2026-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767225600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Scientifica"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>\n                    This study investigates the impact of geographic origin and maturity stage on the morphological and biochemical characteristics of immature carob (\n                    <jats:italic>Ceratonia siliqua<\/jats:italic>\n                    L.) fruits collected from three distinct locations in central Morocco. A total of 300 trees were sampled across seven phenological stages (\n                    <jats:italic>T<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sub>0<\/jats:sub>\n                    \u2013\n                    <jats:italic>T<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sub>7<\/jats:sub>\n                    ), and various parameters were assessed, including fruit morphology, colorimetric indices, sugar content, total polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP). Two\u2010way ANOVA revealed that these attributes were significantly influenced by the site, the maturity stage, and their interaction. Morphological characteristics increased significantly throughout fruit maturation, with the most pronounced changes occurring during the advanced developmental stages (\n                    <jats:italic>T<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sub>5<\/jats:sub>\n                    \u2013\n                    <jats:italic>T<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sub>7<\/jats:sub>\n                    ). Pod length, width, and thickness exhibited a progressive upward trend, reaching their highest values at late maturity stages. In particular, pod length increased markedly from 4.27\u2009\u00b1\u20090.45\u2009cm at\n                    <jats:italic>S<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    \u2013\n                    <jats:italic>T<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sub>0<\/jats:sub>\n                    to 21.43\u2009\u00b1\u20092.65\u2009cm at\n                    <jats:italic>S<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sub>3<\/jats:sub>\n                    \u2013\n                    <jats:italic>T<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sub>5<\/jats:sub>\n                    , corresponding to an approximately fivefold increase during fruit development, thereby highlighting the substantial morphological changes associated with pod maturation. Bioactive compounds showed stage\u2010dependent variations, with the highest levels generally recorded at intermediate maturity stages (\n                    <jats:italic>T<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sub>1<\/jats:sub>\n                    \u2013\n                    <jats:italic>T<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    ). Total phenolic content peaked at\n                    <jats:italic>T<\/jats:italic>\n                    <jats:sub>2<\/jats:sub>\n                    , reaching 3342.38\u2009\u00b1\u2009377.96\u2009mg GAE\/100\u2009g, while total flavonoid and condensed tannin contents attained maximum values of 1335.42\u2009\u00b1\u2009187.95\u2009mg QE\/100\u2009g and 1149.21\u2009\u00b1\u200955.26\u2009mg CE\/100\u2009g, respectively. Principal component analysis accounted for 83.64% of the total variability, highlighting clear groupings based on the developmental stage and site\u2010specific effects. These findings demonstrate that the quality of immature carob fruits is strongly dependent on both environmental and developmental factors. The results provide a valuable basis for the targeted use of carob fruits in food, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical applications, optimizing their nutritional and functional potential.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1155\/sci5\/6783176","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]],"date-time":"2026-07-31T07:12:29Z","timestamp":1785481949000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Variability in Carob Fruit Composition: Geographic and Maturity Stage Effects on Physical and Biochemical Properties"],"prefix":"10.1155","volume":"2026","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-3407-7780","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Salah","family":"Laaraj","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-8014-2187","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chaimae","family":"El-Rhouttais","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-2540-928X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hicham","family":"Ouhakki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6155-7011","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aziz","family":"Tikent","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-8259-019X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sofia","family":"Zazouli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4525-0682","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Atman","family":"Adiba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1976-9472","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohamed","family":"Kouighat","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1634-3054","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Abdellatif","family":"Boutagayout","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anas","family":"Hamdani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-1193-2566","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohamed","family":"Lamsiah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0002-6815-0059","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ayour","family":"Jamal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5864-0591","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohammed","family":"Mitache","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2769-9184","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Souad","family":"Salmaoui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7456-2466","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kaoutar","family":"Elfazazi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_11_1_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/foods11142154"},{"key":"e_1_2_11_2_2","first-page":"4946","article-title":"Morphological 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