title: Irrigation and fruit canopy position modify oil quality of olive trees (cv. Frantoio).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fruit development and oil quality in Olea europaea L. are strongly influenced by both light and water availability. In the present study, the simultaneous effects of light environment and irrigation on fruit characteristics and oil quality were studied in a high-density orchard over two consecutive years. Olive fruits were harvested from three canopy positions (intercepting approximately 64%, 42% and 30% of above canopy radiation) of fully-productive trees subjected to full, deficit or complementary irrigation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fruits receiving 61-67% of above canopy radiation showed the highest fruit weight, mesocarp oil content and maturation index, whereas those intercepting only 27-33% showed the lowest values. Palmitoleic and linoleic acids increased in oils obtained from fruits exposed to high light levels, whereas oleic acid and the oleic-linoleic acid ratio decreased. Neither canopy position, nor irrigation affected K232, K270, ΔK and the concentration of lignan in virgin olive oils (VOOs). Total phenols, 3,4-DHPEA-EDA [2-(3,4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl (3S,4E)-4-formyl-3-(2-oxoethyl)hex-4-enoate] and p-HPEA-EDA (decarboxymethyl ligstroside-aglycone) increased in VOOs produced from fruits harvested from the top of the canopy, whereas full irrigation decreased total phenols and 3,4-DHPEA-EDA concentrations with respect to the complementary irrigation treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Light and water availability are crucial not only for tree productivity, but also they clearly affect olive oil quality. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, Pisa, Italy.|Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood - Nutraceuticals and Food for Health, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, Portici, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Isabella
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Sifola
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Selvaggini
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Urbani
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esposto
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Agnese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taticchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Servili
mesh_terms: D057914:Agricultural Irrigation; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D000069463:Olive Oil / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000069463:Olive Oil; D010636:Phenols; D010938:Plant Oils
keywords: fatty acids; leaf water potential; mesocarp oil content; phenolic composition; photosynthetically active radiation