ISHS Acta Horticulturae 586: IV International Symposium on Olive Growing
FIRST OBSERVATIONS REGARDING OIL ACCUMULATION AND OTHER PHENOLOGICAL ASPECTS WITHIN THE NEW OLIVE PRODUCTION ZONE OF CATAMARCA, ARGENTINA |
| Authors: | L.M. Ravetti, A.C. Matías |
| Keywords: | Cultivar, Olea europaea, polyphenols, fatty acids, quality. |
| Abstract:
The sharp increase of olive-planted areas in Argentina, as well as the peculiar climatic characteristics of the region forced to carry out a base study in order to know local fruit growth and oil accumulation parameters. This work began with phenological observations from June to April in the most spread cultivars in the Province of Catamarca. Then, one hundred fruit samples of those cultivars were harvested each fifteen days from stone hardening up to full maturity. Fruit size, fresh and dry weight and oil content were measured in each one of those fruit samples. Obtained results show that oil accumulation and fruit growth parameters in Catamarca have a similar behaviour to those of the Mediterranean areas. It could be seen in a one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty days period from the beginning of oil output to its end. The lowest rates of olive growth and oil biosynthesis were observed at the early beginning and at the end of fruits ripening, and during an intermediate period which coincided with the highest temperatures and evaporation rates registered. However, it must be pointed out that a significant reduction of the period that lapses between flowering and pit hardening was observed. Furthermore, full blooming dates (10 to 20 of September) took place even before the beginning of the spring. In summary, as it is evidenced by the observations made, oil yields in the region must be similar to those of the traditional areas. Nevertheless, early blooming dates and early harvesting time lead us to think that certain problems could be noticed in the future regarding late frosts in the first case and high temperatures while harvesting, storing and milling fruits in the second one. | |
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