EFFECT OF CROP LOAD ON FRUIT RIPENING AND OLIVE OIL (OLEA-EUROPEA L) QUALITY

The influence of individual plant yield on olive fruit ripening, oil accumulation pattern and oil quality was investigated on plants of cv. Cassanese, at full yield (100% = 26.2 kg tree-1), partially reduced yield (70% = 18.4 kg tree-1) and halved yield (50% = 12.5 kg tree-1). Fruits of trees with halved yield were bigger and reached full black maturation stage 30 d earlier than those of the more heavily loaded trees while oil accumulated faster and reached higher final amounts. No differences in acidity, peroxides, alcohol and sterol content were recorded between treatments, but polyphenols, palmitic and linoleic acid contents were highest when the crop load was halved.