Tree Planting Density and Canopy Position Affect ‘Cerasuola’ and ‘Koroneiki’ Olive Oil Quality

Abstract

To maximize orchard production and tree crop efficiency, optimization of both maximum orchard light interception and radiation distribution within the tree canopy are important strategies. To study the influence of planting density and fruit position within the canopy on oil quality from ‘Cerasuola’ and ‘Koroneiki’ olive (Olea europaea L.), fruits were harvested from the upper and lower canopy layers of trees in hedgerow planting systems at two densities: High at 1000 trees ha−1 (HD) and Medium at 500 trees ha−1 (MD). Tree crop efficiency and fruit weight, water and fat content were measured together with olive oil standard quality parameters, phenolic and volatile composition. Fruits in the upper layers of the canopy always showed a higher maturity index, 6% more fat content, and 4% less water content than lower layers. Upper layers of HD trees showed the highest phenol content, whereas lower layers of MD trees showed the lowest phenol content (36% less than the upper layers of HD). HD trees showed the largest differences in fruit maturation, water and fat content between upper and lower canopy positions, increasing quality and oil yield variability at harvest. ‘Koroneiki’ showed more stable oils with a 28% higher MUFA/PUFA ratio and 12% higher phenol content than ‘Cerasuola’ oils. This study provides further evidence of the fact that cultivar, planting density, and canopy architecture may be strong determinants of olive oil yield and composition in hedgerow planting systems.

The Introduction of Allochthonous Olive Variety and Super High-Density System in the Abruzzo Region: A Study on Olive Oil Quality

“…Based on the ANOVA results ( Table S1 ), the cultivar and the combined effect year/cultivar significantly affected the TPC content ( p < 0.0001). As previously reported, the great fluctuation in the phenolic content is influenced by chemical and enzymatic alterations during olive ripening [ 27 ], and can also be associated with the spacing, orientation, fruit position within the canopy, and quality of irradiance depending on the training systems adopted; in particular, the canopy upper layers with high irradiance show an increasing response of phenolic compounds [ 28 , 29 ], while agronomical factors such as high irrigation doses could reduce phenolic content [ 30 , 31 ].…”

The quality of olive oil extracted from some olive varieties cultivated by highly intensive in Egypt

“…While Koroneiki cultivar recorded lower moisture content compared to the other cultivars under study, on the other hand, the oil content of Koroneiki cultivar was higher than oil 42.74%, followed by Arbosana and 69 with 40.18 and 35.59%, respectively, compared to Oleana cultivar which had a lower percentage of oil (32.90%). according to [18].…”

Bio‐phenols determination in olive oils: Recent mass spectrometry approaches

“…The same complex scenario is repeated in the case of the other two important secoiridoids contained in olive oil, oleacein and oleocanthal (Boussahel et al, 2020;De La Torre-Carbot et al, 2005;Grilo et al, 2020Grilo et al, , 2021Obied et al, 2007).…”