Genotype, environment and their interaction on olive

Resumen del trabajo presentado en la 6th International Conference on the Olive Tree and Olive Products, celebrada en Sevilla (España) del 15 al 19 de octubre de 2018.The wide olive genetic patrimony has revealed high variability for most of the agronomic and oil quality traits of interest in olive growing. Few studies, however, have addressed the interaction of this variability with the environment, a subject of particular interest considering the natural high instability of the Mediterranean climate and the challenge of the predicted climate change. The current work presents results on the interaction between genotype and environment from multi-environment trials of olive cultivars and breeding selections, planted in different edaphoclimatic conditions of Andalusia, Southern Peninsular Spain and Canary Islands. For most of the agronomic and oil quality characters evaluated (flowering phenology, flower quality, pattern of oil accumulation, fatty acid composition and phenol content and composition), significant genotype and environment effects have been observed. For example, olive cultivars grown in Tenerife under much milder winter temperatures than in the Iberian Peninsula showed substantially earlierflowering and oil accumulation. Only in the case of flowering phenology was no significant genotype effect found. Furthermore, a strong genotype x environment effect was highly consistent in all characters considered. Regarding resistance to disease, such as Verticillium wilt, the variability of results from both natural and artificial inoculations also tends to indicate a considerable environmental effect and the need for careful testing of disease evolution. All this information strongly suggests the necessity of comparative trials of olive cultivars for both adequate choice of cultivar and final selection in breeding programs

Long-term Effect of Intra-Row Spacing on Growth and Productivity of Super-High Density Hedgerow Olive Orchards (cv. Arbequina)

Intra-row spacing is known to determine early productivity of super-high density olive orchards depending on growing conditions, cultivar growth characteristics, planting geometry and subsequent pruning management but few experiments have been carried out in this olive hedgerow orchard design. In 2008 an experiment of 4-m spaced hedgerows was established with 8 intra-row spacings (from 1.0 to 2.5 m) in Toledo (Spain) resulting in orchards of density ranging from 2,500 to 1,000 trees ha−1. Tree growth was evaluated as height, trunk diameter and leaf area during the first 4 years. Hedgerow porosity was calculated from the 4th until the 9th year. In the 8th year hedgerow height, width, leaf area and branch angles were measured. Olives were harvested from 3rd to 9th year for measurements of fruit characteristics and productivity. Tree growth was not affected by intra-row spacing during the first 4 years. In the 8th year leaf area, external surface area and volume per tree were significantly greater in the more spaced trees; but hedgerow characteristics of leaf area per hectare, number of effective leaf layers horizontally through the hedgerow, and leaf density were not affected. In the more spaced trees insertion angles of branches to the vertical were significantly greater, mainly in the lower canopy. Intra-row spacing did not affect fruit characteristics. Oil production ha−1 decreased linearly with spacing during the first 4 harvests while production per tree increased significantly with spacing after the 3rd harvest. As a result, oil production ha−1 from the seven harvests combined only increased for tree spacing less than 1.2 m; wider spacing had no effect. Annual oil production ha−1 increased linearly as porosity was reduced by greater tree density and canopy development along the seasons

Efecto de la intensidad de poda sobre la radiación recibida, floración y fructificación en setos de olivo

Trabajo presentado en el I Congreso Iberico de Olivicultura, celebrado en Badajoz del 13 al 15 de abril de 2016.Para optimizar la productividad de un olivar es importante realizar un diseño y manejo adecuados. En el caso de plantaciones superintensivas el manejo presenta nuevos desafíos, entre ellos las limitaciones de luminosidad propias del diseño y el coste de la poda. Una poda que permita la máxima recepción de radiación puede conllevar una reducción de superficie fotosintética y de zonas en las que se desarrollan flores y frutos. Por tanto, se requiere un equilibrio entre una poda eficaz y económica. En este trabajo determinamos el efecto de la intensidad de poda sobre el crecimiento vegetativo y la productividad de un olivar en seto (cv. Arbequina), con filas orientadas Norte-Sur, ubicado en Pedro Abad (Córdoba), perteneciente a la empresa Todolivo. Para ello se realizó una poda mecánica (poda simple) en la cara este de las filas, dejando sin podar la otra cara. En la mitad de las filas del ensayo se hizo un repaso adicional con poda manual en la cara podada (poda severa), con lo que se crearon diferentes escenarios de estructura morfológica e iluminación. Subsecuente a la poda y el año siguiente se evaluó la radiación recibida, el desarrollo de las flores e inflorescencias, y el crecimiento inicial y final de los frutos. Se compararon entre sí: las dos caras de cada fila (podada vs. no podada), las caras podadas (simple vs. severa), las caras no podadas, y dos filas completas (una de cada mitad del ensayo). Entre los resultados más destacables encontramos un mayor crecimiento vegetativo y menor desarrollo floral y producción en la fila con poda severa comparado con la fila de poda simple. También fue notable que la poda severa llevó a diferencias significativas entre sus dos caras en la proporción de yemas que desarrollaron inflorescencias, no observadas entre caras de la fila de poda simple, probablemente provocada por la mayor irradiancia recibida en su cara no podada. Las observaciones confirman las interacciones complejas entre el microambiente dentro del seto y los diferentes componentes del crecimiento y, en el caso estudiado, sugieren la mayor eficacia de la poda simple que, además, es más económica.N

Leaf Biochemical and Kernel Metabolite Profiles as Potential Biomarkers of Water Deficit in Walnut (<i>Juglans regia</i> L.) cv. Chandler

Walnut cultivation is expanding into regions where water availability for irrigation is lower than crop evapotranspiration. However, information regarding the responses and adaptations of walnut trees to water deficit remains scarce. In this study, we applied three irrigation levels, 100%, 75%, and 50% of crop evapotranspiration (referred to as T100, T75, and T50, respectively), to Chandler walnut trees over two consecutive seasons. During the second season, we evaluated leaf water-deficit biomarkers, including proline, malondialdehyde, soluble sugars, phenols, and flavonoids, using targeted spectrophotometry. Despite not finding significant differences in biomarker concentrations among the irrigation regimes, we observed variations between different collection times (sprouting, endocarp hardening, and maturity). Furthermore, we assessed the kernel metabolome using untargeted gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, profiling seventy-one metabolites across all samples. Notably, forty-one of these metabolites were identified as members of distinct groups, comprising carbohydrates (n = 11), fatty acids (n = 11), organic acids (n = 9), and amino acids (n = 5). Linear mixed models showed no significant differences between the irrigation regimes. However, in the T50 treatment, multivariate analysis (PCA) revealed a higher concentration of osmotic adjustment metabolites, which are potentially associated with protecting oil biosynthesis under high-temperature and water deficit conditions

Olive fruit growth, tissue development and composition as affected by irradiance received in different hedgerow positions and orientations

Incident radiation strongly influences fruit development, but little is known regarding the specific responses to the radiation differences found at different canopy heights and orientations in the new intensive hedgerow orchards. We tested the effect of position-determined solar microenvironment on olive fruit size, composition, and cellular development among positions at successive heights along both faces of N–S and E–W oriented olive hedgerows (cv. Arbequina). Total incident irradiance over the fruit growth period at each canopy position was modeled, and the relationships of all fruit parameters to irradiance and amongst each other were tested. Fruit and mesocarp weight and oil increased from canopy base to top and were linearly related to irradiance, while water content showed the opposite pattern, suggesting that priorities for distribution among different sinks are strongly influenced by irradiance level. Similar patterns of fruit size and composition in relation to irradiance were also observed among hedgerow orientations. Endocarp weight and composition varied little among irradiance levels, reflecting the conservative nature of this tissue as an active sink. Greater fruit size, mesocarp weight, and oil in positions of higher irradiance, even when fruit number was higher, indicating that those yield components were primarily affected by source supply and not limited by sink competition. Fruit exposed to light developed larger mesocarp cells than shaded fruit but cell number was not affected, and mesocarp oil content was highly associated with mesocarp cell size.E.R.T. was supported by a predoctoral fellowship from ERASMUS-Mundus. Partial funding was provided by Spanish Junta de Andalucia—European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) co-financed Project PO11-AGR-7835.Peer reviewe

Long-term Effect of Intra-Row Spacing on Growth and Productivity of Super-High Density Hedgerow Olive Orchards (cv. Arbequina)

Intra-row spacing is known to determine early productivity of super-high density olive orchards depending on growing conditions, cultivar growth characteristics, planting geometry and subsequent pruning management but few experiments have been carried out in this olive hedgerow orchard design. In 2008 an experiment of 4-m spaced hedgerows was established with 8 intra-row spacings (from 1.0 to 2.5 m) in Toledo (Spain) resulting in orchards of density ranging from 2,500 to 1,000 trees ha-1. Tree growth was evaluated as height, trunk diameter and leaf area during the first 4 years. Hedgerow porosity was calculated from the 4th until the 9th year. In the 8th year hedgerow height, width, leaf area and branch angles were measured. Olives were harvested from 3rd to 9th year for measurements of fruit characteristics and productivity. Tree growth was not affected by intra-row spacing during the first 4 years. In the 8th year leaf area, external surface area and volume per tree were significantly greater in the more spaced trees; but hedgerow characteristics of leaf area per hectare, number of effective leaf layers horizontally through the hedgerow, and leaf density were not affected. In the more spaced trees insertion angles of branches to the vertical were significantly greater, mainly in the lower canopy. Intra-row spacing did not affect fruit characteristics. Oil production ha-1 decreased linearly with spacing during the first 4 harvests while production per tree increased significantly with spacing after the 3rd harvest. As a result, oil production ha-1 from the seven harvests combined only increased for tree spacing less than 1.2 m; wider spacing had no effect. Annual oil production ha-1 increased linearly as porosity was reduced by greater tree density and canopy development along the seasons

Efecto de la radiación sobre el desarrollo de flores e inflorescencias en diferentes posiciones de la copa en setos de olivo

Trabajo presentado en las IV Jornadas Nacionales del grupo Olivicultura de la SECH (Sociedad Española de Ciencias Hortícolas), celebrada en Baeza el 25 y 26 de septiembre de 2014.En el olivar superintensivo en seto, la radiación solar incidente puede ser muy variable entre distintas posiciones de la copa,y limitar el desarrollo reproductor en función del diseño del seto. El desarrollo floral es un componente clave en la fructificación, y comprender su respuesta a la variable radiación recibida en diferentes posiciones de la copa del seto es necesario para optimizar el diseño y manejo del olivar.En un seto ( cv Arbequina) con hileras orientadas N-S (Norte-Sur) ubicado en Toledo, se evaluaron inflorescencias de ambos lados (este y oeste) del seto y a dos alturas sobre el suelo (0- 0,4 y 1,6-2,0 m). La calidad floral se determinó a diferentes niveles de organización morfogenética:inflorescencia, flor, ovario, y óvulo. La radiación solar interceptada diariamente en las posiciones estudias de la copase estimó utilizando un modelo, y se determinó el número de frutos en cosecha. En ambos lados del seto, la longitud de inflorescencia, el número de flores totales por inflorescencia y el porcentaje de flores perfectas fueronmayores en la posición m_ás alta, y dentro de esta posición los valores del lado este fueron mayores que los del lado oeste. La calidad de los ovarios, determinada por el tamaño de sus tejidos en preparaciones histológicas, no presentó diferencias significativas para el mesocarpo, pero el tamaño del endocarpo posiblemente estuvo afectado por la posición de la inflorescencia en la copa. El desarrollo de los óvulos fue altamente estable como es típico en este cultivar. El número de frutos en cosecha fue mayor en la posición más alta del seto, y estuvo estrechamente relacionado con el número de flores por inflorescencia (R2 = 0.90). Los resultados resaltan la importancia de la radiación solar y temperatura sobre e] desarrollo floral en olivo, y afirman la relación de calidad floral con la producción.N

Diferencias en radiación y desarrollo floral en diferentes alturas y orientaciones de la copa de olivares en seto

Trabajo presentado en el XVII Simposio científico-técnico EXPOLIVA, celebrado en Jaén del 6 al 9 de mayo de 2015.En olivar superintensivo en seto, la radiación solar incidente, variable entre distintas posiciones de la copa, puede limitar el desarrollo reproductor. Conocer la respuesta del desarrollo floral en estas condiciones es clave para optimizar el diseño y manejo del olivar. Por ello, se ha evaluado la calidad floral y la producción de un seto de la variedad Arbequina orientado N-S, distinguiendo entre ambas caras del seto y a dos alturas sobre el suelo (0-0,4 y 1,6-2,0 m). Asimismo, se estimó la radiación solar interceptada diariamente en las distintas posiciones de la copa y se contó el número de frutos en cosecha. En ambos lados del seto, la longitud de inflorescencia, el número de flores totales por inflorescencia y el porcentaje de flores perfectas fueron mayores en la posición más alta, y dentro de esta posición los valores de la cara este fueron mayores que los de la cara oeste. El desarrollo de los óvulos fue altamente estable, como es típico en este cultivar. El número de frutos en cosecha fue mayor en la posición más alta del seto y estuvo estrechamente relacionado con el número de flores por inflorescencias. Los resultados resaltan la importancia de la radiación solar y temperatura sobre el desarrollo floral en olivo y su relación con la producción. Por ello, los parámetros de floración pueden ser una herramienta útil en la optimización del diseño de setos de olivar.Este estudio ha sido financiado parcialmente por la Junta de Andalucía-Fondos Regionales de Desarrollo (FEDER) Proyecto de excelencia PO11-AGR-7835. E.R. Trentacoste agradece la beca pre-doctoral ERASMUS-Mundus e I. Moreno-Alías un contrato postdoctoral de la Junta de Andalucía.N

Promising olive varieties for extra virgin oil production in Mendoza, Argentina

There are more than 2000 varieties of olives grown worldwide, of which only a few (2 %) are cultivated in Argentina. Mendoza is one of the main oil-producing provinces in the country due to its adequate agroecological conditions. In addition, Mendoza has an olive germplasm collection with over 70 accessions. This work aimed to characterize olive oil from 18 preselected varieties in the collection for qualitative characteristics that are important to the olive industry (i.e., industrial yield, acidity, oxidative stability, total phenolic compounds and phenolic profile). As a result, all evaluated characteristics were significantly different among varieties (p < 0.001) and allowed identifying excellent qualities in varieties not currently cultivated. Five scarcely cultivated varieties (‘Villalonga’, ‘Nebbio’, ‘Nevadillo Blanco’, ‘Canino’, and ‘Piangente’) were highlighted above the most widespread cultivars in Mendoza, Argentina. Featuring on average of 14 % of industrial yield, 15 h of oxidative stability and 373 mg kg−1 of total phenolic compounds