E. Barone et al., EFFECT OF CROP LOAD ON FRUIT RIPENING AND OLIVE OIL (OLEA-EUROPEA L) QUALITY, Journal of Horticultural Science, 69(1), 1994, pp. 67-73
The influence of individual plant yield on olive fruit ripening, oil a
ccumulation pattern and oil quality was investigated on plants of cv.
Cassanese, at full yield (100% = 26.2 kg tree-1), partially reduced yi
eld (70% = 18.4 kg tree-1) and halved yield (50% = 12.5 kg tree-1). Fr
uits of trees with halved yield were bigger and reached full black mat
uration stage 30 d earlier than those of the more heavily loaded trees
while oil accumulated faster and reached higher final amounts. No dif
ferences in acidity, peroxides, alcohol and sterol content were record
ed between treatments, but polyphenols, palmitic and linoleic acid con
tents were highest when the crop load was halved.