“Arbequina” Olive Oil Composition Is Affected by the Application of Regulated Deficit Irrigation during Pit Hardening Stage

Abstract

Three new regulated deficit irrigation (RDI)treatments were applied to “Arbequina” olive orchards dur-ing pit hardening. Oil quality was determined by measuringanalytical parameters for olive oil grading, antioxidantactivity, total phenol content, fatty acid profile, volatilecompounds profile, and sensory analysis. Oils from RDIwere classified as “extra virgin olive oil” and their qualitywas improved due to their higher antioxidant potential(ABTS + [increased ~75%] and DPPH˙ [increased ~25%]assays) and phenols (increased ~53%) than control. Con-centration of total volatile compounds decreased (~27%)but RDI olive oils showed a more balanced profile (alco-hols, aldehydes, and esters). Monounsaturated fatty acidcontent increased (~5%) and atherogenic and thrombogenicindexes decreased (~8.5%) in RDI olive oil. Regarding sen-sory analysis, RDI provided more balanced oils with higherfruit aroma than control. Other benefits of RDI olive oil,when compared with oil from full irrigated orchards arereduced use of water and improved functional and sensoryquality