title: Leaf biochemical responses and fruit oil quality parameters in olive plants subjected to airborne metal pollution.
abstract: This study was carried out in two olive orchards (Olea europaea L., cv. Chemlali) located in a polluted area near a fertilizers factory and in a control unpolluted site, managed with similar cultivation techniques. The aim was to investigate the physiological and biochemical responses of polluted plants (PP), exposed to atmospheric metal contamination (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb) as compared to control plants (CP). Leaves, roots and fruits of PP showed a depression of their non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant defences and a disruption of their hormonal homeostasis. The anomalous physiological status of PP was also demonstrated by the lower values of pigments in leaves and fruits, as compared to CP. Atmospheric metals negatively affected olive oil chemical and sensory quality. However, despite metal deposition on fruit surfaces, the accumulation of potentially toxic metals in olive oil was negligible. Considering that olive oil is an important food product worldwide and that many productive olive orchards are exposed to several sources of pollution, this work could contribute to clarify the effects of atmospheric metal pollution on olive oil quality and its potential toxicity for humans.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, Road of Soukra km 4 - BP n° 802, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Radhia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fourati
authors.affiliation: School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scopa
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, Road of Soukra km 4 - BP n° 802, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Chedlia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ben Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences, University of Sfax, Road of Soukra km 4 - BP n° 802, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ferjani
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ben Abdallah
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Terzano
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta Eliana
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Gattullo
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Allegretta
authors.affiliation: School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galgano
authors.affiliation: School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Marisa Carmela
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: School of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Viale dell'Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy. Electronic address: adriano.sofo@unibas.it.
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sofo
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005638:Fruit / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D031658:Olea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000069463:Olive Oil / Q000032:analysis*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D000069463:Olive Oil
keywords: Air pollution; Antioxidants; Hormones; Metals; Oil quality; Pigments