Citation
Gómez-del-Campo, Maria and García Martos, José M.
(2012).
Canopy fruit location can affect olive oil quality in Arbequina hedgerow orchards..
"Journal of the American Oil Chemists", v. 89
;
pp. 123-133.
ISSN 0003-021X.
Abstract
The effect of location of fruit in canopies of
hedgerow olive trees (Olea europaea L., cv. ‘Arbequina’)
on quality of virgin oil was tested by analyzing oils
extracted from different height layers and faces of nine
olive hedgerows (6 North–South oriented and 3 East–
West). Although sensory attributes were not different, other
oil quality parameters may be significantly modified by
fruit position. Oils extracted from fruits harvested from
higher layers exhibited significantly higher stability against
oxidation, along with higher palmitic acid, linoleic acid and
phenol contents, but lower oleic acid content. Oils extracted
from fruits harvested from East and North facing
hedgerows oriented North–South and East–West, respectively,
exhibited higher oleic contents and lower saturated
and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents. The mean phenol
content of oils extracted from fruits from a North–South
oriented hedgerow was significantly greater from one of
the East–West oriented hedgerows. These findings may be
relevant for the design of future olive hedgerows destined
for olive oil production.