title: The influence of bearing cycles on olive oil quality response to irrigation.
abstract: Five rates of water application were applied in a 4 year study on olive (Olea europaea) varieties 'Barnea' and 'Souri'. Increased irrigation lead to increased tree-scale oil yields, lower polyphenol content, and, frequently, higher oil acidity. These effects were predominant in "off" years. The fatty acid profile was influenced primarily by bearing level and variety and secondarily by irrigation rate. The saturated to unsaturated fatty acid ratio was higher in "off" than in "on" years, and the monounsaturated fatty acid to polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio was higher in "on" years as a result of the fact that oleic and stearic acids were higher in "on" years, while palmitic, palmitoleic, and linoleic acids were greater in "off" years. Squalene was higher in 'Souri' than in 'Barnea' oils, was not affected by bearing cycle, and was consistently lower in oil from trees receiving the lowest irrigation level.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Soil, Water and Environmental Sciences, Gilat Research Center, Agricultural Research Organization, Mobile Post Negev 2, 85280, Israel. bengal@volcani.agri.gov.il
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ben-Gal
authors.forename: Arnon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dag
authors.forename: Loai
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Basheer
authors.forename: Uri
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yermiyahu
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zipori
authors.forename: Zohar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kerem
mesh_terms: D057914:Agricultural Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D014867:Water