title: Influence of deficit irrigation strategies on fatty acid and tocopherol concentration of almond (Prunus dulcis).
abstract: The effects of deficit irrigation on almond fatty acid and tocopherol levels were studied in a field trial. Mature almond trees were subjected to three levels of deficit irrigation (85%, 70% and 55% of potential crop evapotranspiration (ETo), as well as control (100% ETo) and over-irrigation (120% ETo) treatments. Two deficit irrigation strategies were employed: regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and sustained deficit irrigation (SDI). Moderate deficit irrigation (85% RDI and 85% SDI) had no detrimental impact on almond kernel lipid content, but severe and extreme deficiencies (70% and 55%) influenced lipid content. Unsaturated fatty acid (USFA) and saturated fatty acid (SFA) contents fluctuated under these treatments, the oleic/linoleic ratio increased under moderate water deficiency, but decreased under severe and extreme water deficiency. Almond tocopherols concentration was relatively stable under deficit irrigation. The variation between years indicated climate has an effect on almond fruit development. In conclusion it is feasible to irrigate almond trees using less water than the normal requirement, without significant loss of kernel quality.
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia. Electronic address: ying.zhu@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Future Farming Systems Research Division, PO Box 905, Mildura, VIC 3502, Australia. Electronic address: cathy.taylor@depi.vic.gov.au.
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Future Farming Systems Research Division, PO Box 905, Mildura, VIC 3502, Australia. Electronic address: karl.sommer@depi.vic.gov.au.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia. Electronic address: kerry.wilkinson@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kerry
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia. Electronic address: michelle.wirthensohn@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wirthensohn
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D003681:Dehydration / Q000378:metabolism*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D027861:Prunus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D014867:Water; D024505:Tocopherols
keywords: Almond; Fatty acids; Linoleic acid (PubChem CID: 5280450); Lipids; Oleic acid (PubChem CID: 445639); Palmitic acid (PubChem CID: 985); Palmitoleic acid (PubChem CID: 445638); RDI; SDI; Stearic acid (PubChem CID: 5281); Vaccenic acid (PubChem CID: 5282761); Vitamin E; Water stress; β-Tocopherol (PubChem CID: 6857447); γ-Tocopherol (PubChem CID: 92729); δ-Tocopherol (PubChem CID: 92094)