Effects of the planting density on virgin olive oil quality of "Chemlali" olive trees (Olea europaea L.).
Here, we report the characterization of virgin olive oil samples obtained from fruits of the main Tunisian olive cultivar (Chemlali) grown in four planting densities (156, 100, 69, and 51 trees ha(-1)). Olive oil samples obtained from fruits of trees grown at 100 trees ha(-1) had a higher content of oleic acid (65.5%), a higher content of chlorophyll and carotenoids, and a higher content in total phenols (1059.08 mg/kg). Interestingly, olives grown at the two highest planting densities yielded more stable oils than olives grown at the two lowest ones. Thus planting density is found to be a key factor for the quality of olive oils in arid regions.
Institut Supérieur de Biologie Appliquée de Medenine, Université de Gabes, B.P. 522, 4100 Medenine, Tunisia.
Mokhtar
M
Guerfel
Chokri
C
Zaghdoud
Khaled
K
Jebahi
Dalenda
D
Boujnah
Mokhtar
M
Zarrouk
D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D011786:Quality Control
D000069463:Olive Oil; D010636:Phenols; D010938:Plant Oils; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002338:Carotenoids