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This work analyzes the effect of soil salinity on olive oil quality. The chemical composition of oils extracted from young ‘Arbequina' olives subject in the field to three soil salinity levels (low-L, medium-M and high-H) was determined throughout a period of three years. A total of 30 parameters were analyzed (moisture, oil content, acidity, peroxides, ultraviolet absorbances, poliphenols, aliphatic alcohols, sterols, waxes, and fatty acid composition). Soil salinity was measured on fourteen different dates with an electromagnetic sensor. Overall, salinity increased oil content (+15 % in H with respect to L) and decreased aliphatic alcohols (-29 %) and palmitoleic acid (-32 %) (values significant at P0,05). In summary, olive oil quality was practically independent of soil salinity and, according to the prevailing legislation, all the oils were classified as “extra virgin”.Este trabajo analiza el efecto de la salinidad edáfica sobre la calidad del aceite de oliva. Durante tres campañas se determinó la composición química de aceites provenientes de olivos jóvenes ‘Arbequina' sujetos en campo a tres niveles de salinidad (baja-B, media-M y alta-A). En total se analizaron 30 parámetros (humedad, grasa, acidez, peróxidos, lecturas en el ultravioleta, polifenoles, alcoholes alifáticos, esteroles, ceras y composición de ácidos grasos). La salinidad edáfica se midió en catorce fechas con un sensor electromagnético. La salinidad produjo un aumento del porcentaje de grasa (+15 % en A respecto a B), y un descenso de los alcoholes alifáticos (-29 %) y del ácido palmitoleico (-32 %) (valores significativos a P0,05). En conclusión, la calidad del aceite de oliva fue prácticamente independiente de la salinidad, clasificándose en todos los casos como “virgen extra” según la normativa vigente.

The chemical composition of virgin olive oils (95 samples) from Aragón (Spain) from two successive crop seasons (1997/98 and 1998/99) and its relationship with quality and oxidative stability is examined. The main characteristics were: free acidity 0.5 (% oleic acid), peroxide value 11.8 meq/kg, K232 1.92, K270 0.13, oxidative stability 51.4 h (Rancimat method), and antioxidant phenolic substances 168.5 mg/kg (as caffeic acid). From the distribution of fatty acids, a high percentage of linoleic acid (9.46 %) and a low level of stearic (2.10 %) and arachidic (0.36 %) acids, is worth noting. The effect of sample origin (7 productive regions from Aragón), olive variety (Empeltre and Arbequina), and the different steps through processing are also investigated. However, the major factor affecting results was the plague of olive flies during 1997/98 crop season. Se ha estudiado la composición química de 95 muestras de aceite de oliva virgen de Aragón procedente de dos campañas sucesivas (1997/98 y 1998/99) y su relación con la calidad y la estabilidad oxidativa. Las principales características fueron una acidez de 0,5 (% ácido oleico), índice de peróxidos 11,8 meq/kg, K232 1,92, K270 0,13, estabilidad a la oxidación 51,4 h (método Rancimat) y contenido en polifenoles antioxidantes 168,5 mg/kg (como ácido caféico). Del perfil de ácidos grasos, destaca el elevado contenido en linoleico (9,46 %) y las bajas tasas de esteárico (2,10 %) y aráquico (0,36 %). Se analiza el efecto de la procedencia de las muestras (7 comarcas productoras de Aragón), de la variedad de la aceituna (Empeltre o Arbequina) y de las distintas fases del procesado del aceite. Se destaca la gran influencia sobre la calidad del aceite de la plaga de mosca sufrida durante la campaña de 1997/98.

The chemical composition of virgin olive oils (95 samples) from Aragón (Spain) from two successive crop seasons (1997/98 and 1998/99) and its relationship with quality and oxidative stability is examined. The main characteristics were: free acidity 0.5 (% oleic acid), peroxide value 11.8 meq/kg, K232 1.92, K270 0.13, oxidative stability 51.4 h (Rancimat method), and antioxidant phenolic substances 168.5 mg/kg (as caffeic acid). From the distribution of fatty acids, a high percentage of linoleic acid (9.46 %) and a low level of stearic (2.10 %) and arachidic (0.36 %) acids, is worth noting. The effect of sample origin (7 productive regions from Aragón), olive variety (Empeltre and Arbequina), and the different steps through processing are also investigated. However, the major factor affecting results was the plague of olive flies during 1997/98 crop season.Se ha estudiado la composición química de 95 muestras de aceite de oliva virgen de Aragón procedente de dos campañas sucesivas (1997/98 y 1998/99) y su relación con la calidad y la estabilidad oxidativa. Las principales características fueron una acidez de 0,5 (% ácido oleico), índice de peróxidos 11,8 meq/kg, K232 1,92, K270 0,13, estabilidad a la oxidación 51,4 h (método Rancimat) y contenido en polifenoles antioxidantes 168,5 mg/kg (como ácido caféico). Del perfil de ácidos grasos, destaca el elevado contenido en linoleico (9,46 %) y las bajas tasas de esteárico (2,10 %) y aráquico (0,36 %). Se analiza el efecto de la procedencia de las muestras (7 comarcas productoras de Aragón), de la variedad de la aceituna (Empeltre o Arbequina) y de las distintas fases del procesado del aceite. Se destaca la gran influencia sobre la calidad del aceite de la plaga de mosca sufrida durante la campaña de 1997/98.

O presente estudo caracteriza os efeitos de uma condução típica de rega em olival superintensivo (1,35 x 3,75 m) na região de Évora (Alentejo) e em solo Cambissolo Êutrico. Analisa-se o regime hídrico praticado em dois tratamentos de rega, normal (FI) e deficitário (DI), este com redução da dotação de rega depois do endurecimento do caroço e seus efeitos sobre a transpiração, a humidade do solo e o potencial hídrico, um parâmetro fisiológico indicador do estado hídrico da cultura. Analisam-se os resultados de transpiração potencial do olival obtidos com o modelo de condutância estomática global da copa de Orgazet al.(2007) aplicado ao modelo “big leaf” de Penman Monteith (Jones, 1992). Analisa-se também a possibilidade de prever a transpiração do olival com os valores do índice de vegetação NDVI estimados de assinaturas espectrais do olival, obtidos por detecção remota através dos sensores instalados nos satélites Landsat Thematic Mapper e Terra. Em relação ao regime hídrico da rega normal (FI), o regime hídrico da rega deficitária (DI) apresentou progressiva severidade no défice hídrico das oliveiras, com diminuição nos valores da transpiração e redução nos valores da humidade do solo e do potencial hídrico da cultura. A rega normal apresentou também défice hídrico moderado nos meses de julho e agosto, ainda que menos pronunciado que no observado para o tratamento de rega deficitário. Os resultados dos modelos de Orgazet al.(2007) e “big leaf” de Penman-Monteith indicam que uma vez validados poderão ser usados para prever a transpiração potencial do olival super-intensivo no Alentejo. A baixa correlação entre a transpiração e os valores do índice de vegetação NDVI durante o período de rega inviabiliza a possibilidade de se prever a transpiração do olival através da detecção remota de reflectâncias espectrais relacionadas com o NDVI., This study characterizes the effects of a typical farmer irrigation management and one of deficit irrigation imposed to a hedgerow olive orchard (1, 35 x 3,75 m) in the region of Évora, Southern Portugal on a Eutric Cambisol soil (FAO, 1998). The two irrigation regimes and their effects on tree transpiration, soil water content and stem and leaves water potential, a physiological parameter indicator of plant water stress, are analysed. With deficit irrigation DI imposed after pit fruit hardening, it was observed a progressive reduction on the values of tree transpiration, stem and leaf water potential and soil water content predominantly towards the end August and September. For the normal irrigation treatment (FI) transpiration values slightly declined for the months of July and August, although less than the ones for treatment DI. Results obtained with the “big leaf” model of Penman-Monteith (Jones, 1992) and bulk canopy conductance model of Orgazet al.(2007) indicate that once validated they can be used to predict the transpiration of non-stressed hedgerow olive orchards in Alentejo. Predicting transpiration with the remotely sensed vegetation index NDVI proved difficult for lack of a strong correlation between the two parameters.

10 Pags., 5 Tabls., 3 Figs., Phenolic compounds have a high importance in olive oil because of their effect on shelf life and sensory properties. This study reports on the HPLC profiles of the phenolic compounds of virgin olive oils obtained from Arbequina olives from the harvesting in a super-intensive orchard under a linear irrigation system. In addition, phenolic content, carotenoid and chlorophyllic pigments, and oxidative stability were analyzed. Total phenol content and 3,4-DHPEA-EDA increased up to a maximum throughout the ripening process. The simple phenols tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol acetate increased throughout the ripening process, however, there was not found a clear trend in hydroxytyrosol content. Minor constituents such as vanillic acid and p-coumaric acid increased up to a maximum and then decreased, since vanillin decreased progressively throughout the time of harvest. 3,4-DHPEA-EDA and lignans were present in considerable amounts in the studied samples, while oleuropein aglycone was present in a low amount. Total phenol content and oil stability followed the same trend throughout the study, so a very good correlation was established between them. Total secoiridoids and, specifically, 3,4-DHPEA-EDA seemed to be responsible for oil stability. The pigment content decreased during ripening, and not a positive correlation was found between pigments and oil stability., This work was made possible by a predoctoral fellowship awarded to Marta Benito and the PI 170/09 project given by the Aragon government.

The attacks of jasmine moth were monitored in three olive cultivars, ‘Arbequina’, ‘Cobrançosa’ and ‘Galega Vulgar’, in a five years old olive grove and also in a plot of ‘Galega Vulgar’ one year old near Belmonte. The observations were carried out in 2000, from April 5 to November 7 and the first symptoms were observed on July 7. ‘Cobrançosa’ was significantly less attacked throughout the observation period and no significant differences were detected between the remaining. In order to explain these differences, leaf thickness of the different cultivars were compared by histological cuts but no differences were detected. No other differences regarding the presence and abundance of trichomes were found.

The cultivar choice is fundamental for oil production as the cultural techniques such as mechanical harvest as well as environmental adaptability. In the period 2004-2007, in central Italy, in the region of Umbria, a trial was carried out to evaluate how some cultivars, such as ‘Arbequina’, ‘Kalamata’, ‘Leccino’, ‘Manzanilla de Sevilla’, ‘Picholine’, ‘Picholine Marocaine’ and ‘Sorani’, adapt to environmental conditions and respond to mechanical harvesting by trunk shaker. The years 2006 and 2007 were characterised by very low rainfall during the ripening period and the 2005 year was off because a late frost damaged the inflorescences. The most productive cultivar resulted to be ‘Leccino’ (19 kg olive/tree), followed by ‘Kalamata’, ‘Picholine’ and ‘Manzanilla de Sevilla’. Besides, during the year, the cultivars ‘Leccino’, ‘Kalamata’ and ‘Picholine’ showed a steady productive behaviour. On the contrary ‘Picholine Marocaine’ and ‘Sorani’ showed a limited yield. The most vigorous cultivars, measured as crown volume, were ‘Leccino’ and ‘Kalamata’ (26 m3 in average) followed by ‘Picholine’ and ‘Sorani’ (19 m3 in average). The highest yield efficiencies were observed in ‘Manzanilla de Sevilla’ and ‘Arbequina’ (1 kg of olive/m3 of crown) and the lowest in ‘Sorani’ (0.26 kg of olive/m3 of crown). The mechanical harvesting percentage was very high, over 91%, in ‘Kalamata’, ‘Sorani’, ‘Picholine’ and ‘Leccino’; it was good (over 83%) in ‘Picholine Marocaine’ and ‘Manzanilla de Sevilla’. ‘Kalamata’, ‘Picholine Marocaine’, ‘Picholine’ and ‘Manzanilla de Sevilla’ showed fruits with weight over 3 g and ‘Leccino’ and ‘Arbequina’ of 1.72 and 1.14 g respectively. All the oils were respondent to commercial standard with a variable content of polyphenols. The cultivars ‘Leccino’, ‘Kalamata’ and ‘Picholine’ for their good agronomic characteristics deserve, more than the others, to be tested on large scale for new plantations.

Os ataques de traça-verde foram monitorizados em três cultivares de oliveira, ‘Arbequina’, ‘Cobrançosa’ e ‘Galega Vulgar’,numolival de cincoanos de idade e na ‘Galega Vulgar’ também numaparcela com um ano de idade, na zona de Belmonte. As observações decorreram de 5 de Abril a 7 de Novembro de 2010, tendo sido observados os primeiros sintomas em 7 de Julho. ‘Cobrançosa’ foi significativamente menos atacada ao longo de todo o períodode observações, não tendo sido detectadas diferenças significativas entre as restantes. Com o objectivo de procurar explicar o maior ataque à ‘Cobrançosa’, compararam-se as espessuras de folhas das diferentes cultivares em corte histológico, não se tendo verificado diferenças significativas. A nível histológico também não se observaram diferenças relativamente à presença e abundância de tricomas. Abstract: The attacks of jasmine moth were monitored in three olive cultivars, ‘Arbequina’, ‘Cobrançosa’ and ‘Galega Vulgar’,in a five years old olive grove and also in a plot of‘Galega Vulgar’ one year old near Belmonte. The observations were carried out in 2000, from April 5 to November 7 and the first symptoms were observed on July 7. ‘Cobrançosa’ was significantly less attacked throughout the observation period and no significant differences were detected between the remaining. In order to explain thesedifferences, leaf thickness of the different cultivars were compared by histological cuts but no differences were detected. No other differences regarding the presence and abundance of trichomes were found.

Traditional olive oil production is limited by its high cost, mainly due to labor expenses for harvesting and pruning. A new olive planting system based on hedgerows and harvesting machines could decrease production costs while maintaining high quality. To improve the efficiency of the continuous-straddle mechanical harvesters, vigor must be managed to limit tree size. However, few cultivars are adapted to this system. Selections from three cultivars are typically used in these super-high-density orchards. We field-tested "Arbequina i-18", "Arbosana i-43" and "Koroneiki i-38" in an irrigated, super-high-density planting system in Catalonia (northeast Spain). We present a review of 6 years of horticultural data and summarize sensory characteristics and other properties of the resulting olive oils.

The new olive cultivar 'Sikitita' was obtained from a cross between the 'Picual' and 'Arbequina' varieties. 'Sikitita' was selected for its features, making it particularly suited to high-density olive hedgerow orchards. From the standpoint of chloroplast pigment metabolism, the fruits of the 'Picual' and 'Arbequina' varieties have significant differences. It is therefore extremely interesting to analyze the descendants of both cultivars. With regard to chlorophyll catabolism, 'Sikitita' has proven to be a cultivar with low pigmentation and low levels of chlorophyllase activity. This is contrary to the findings obtained to date, where varieties with low pigmentation are a consequence of high chlorophyllase activity ('Arbequina') and highly pigmented fruits are due to low chlorophyllase activity ('Picual'). 'Arbequina' was, until recently, the only cultivar described that had developed a carotenogenic process, despite its anthocyanic ripening. However, from its father ('Arbequina'), the 'Sikitita' cultivar has inherited the pool of enzymes necessary to esterify xanthophylls at the chromoplast level. This makes 'Sikitita' a very interesting cultivar, with potential chemotaxonomic differences (such as esterified xanthophylls in the olive oils), and demonstrates the interest in genetic improvement programs for olive cultivars with different organoleptic characteristics. © 2011 American Chemical Society., This work was supported by the Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología of the Spanish Government (AGL 2007-66139-C02-01/ALI, CICYT, Spanish Government) and Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (PIE200870I188, CSIC, Spanish Government).

A detailed genomic linkage map of the olive (Olea europaea L. ssp.europaea (2x=2n= 46)) was constructed with a 147 F1 full-sib 'Olivi` · 'Arbequina' progeny in a two-way pseudo-test cross-mapping configuration. Based onalogarithmofoddsthresholdof6andamaximumrecombination fractionof0.4,maternalandpaternalmapswere constructed using 222 makers (178 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), 37 simple sequence repeat (SSR),sevenintersimplesequencerepeat(ISSR))and219markers(174AFLP,39SSR,6ISSR)markers,respectively. The female map regrouped 36 linkage groups (LGs) defining 2210.2 cM of total map length with an average marker spacing 11.2 cM and a maximum gap of 48.5 cM between adjacent markers. The male map contained 31 LGs and covered a distance of 1966.2 cM with an average and a maximum distance between two adjacent markers of 10.3 and 40.4 cM, respectively. Mean LG size was 61.3 and 63.4 cM in the maternal and paternal maps, respectively. The LGs consisted of two to 17 loci (up to 21 loci in the paternal map) and ranged in length from 2.7 to 182 cM (female map) or from4.1 to 218.1 cM(paternal map).Markers were distributed throughout the mapswithoutanyclustering. Thetotal length of the consensus map was 3823.2 cM containing 436 markers distributed into 42 LGs with a mean distance between two adjacent loci of 8.7 cM. Both parental maps and the consensus maps were compared with previously published olive maps. Although not saturated yet, the present maps offer a promising tool for quantitative trait loci mapping because phenotypic characterization of the cross is currently carried out. Olive is one of the most important Mediterranean fruit species cultivated for oil and canned fruit consumption. With over 2000 cultivars, the olive tree is highly diverse and adapted to Mediterranean agroecological conditions. It plays a major socioeconomical role in traditional agroecosystems, especially in southern Mediterranean areas with an expanding use in oil and cosmetic industries (Aburjai and Natsheh, 2003). Olive is a diploid species (2n = 46 (Green and Wickens, 1989)) with a nuclear DNA content ranging from 2.90 ± 0.020

Olive tree varieties that were cultivated only in the Mediterranean basin a few decades ago are now planted in the Southern Hemisphere as well. The chemical composition of the oils produced in countries as far distant as Spain and Chile are affected by differences in latitude and climate. In this work, seven monovarietal virgin olive oils from Chile (Arbequina, Barnea, Frantoio, Koroneiki, Leccino, Manzanilla and Picual) have been characterized by the chemical compounds responsible for taste (phenols) and aroma (volatiles). The oils were produced in five regions of Chile, and the concentration values of some chemical compounds were related to the geographical location of the olive tree orchards. Virgin olive oils from the major cultivars, Arbequina and Picual, were characterized in comparison with the same monovarietal oils produced in Spain. The concentration values of fourteen volatile compounds showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the oils produced in Spain and Chile. Concerning the phenol composition, main differences were found on the secoiridoids derivatives of oleuropein and ligstroside, apigenin and luteolin. © 2010 American Chemical Society., This work was supported by the bilateral project 2006CL0037 of CSIC-Spain and Universidad de Santiago-Chile.

Mestrado em Engenharia Alimentar - Tecnologia dos Produtos Vegetais The aim of this work was to evaluate the stability of olive oil during six months of storage in stainless steel tanks (similar to those used in the mills). For this, six oil mill tanks were used, three with a normal atmosphere and three more with a modified atmosphere, with nitrogen, since the olive oil easily reacts with oxygen and suffers oxidative deterioration. The purpose was to determinate if olive oil stored in tanks with a non reactive atmosphere maintains its initial characteristics for a longer period of time. A Spanish variety was selected, Arbequina, that presents lower oxidation stability, relative to other olive oil varieties. Every month, different chemical analyses were performed: acidity, peroxide, index, spectrophotometry, tocopherols, polyphenols, oxidative stability and triacylglycerols oxidation. The olive oil stored with a normal atmosphere showed a slightly higher oxidative deterioration when compared with the olive oil stored in the tanks with a modified atmosphere, but no significant differences were found between the two different kinds of atmospheres except in triacylglycerols oxidation. In the sensorial analysis the oil mill tanks with a non reactive atmosphere presented a greater intensity in the “fruity”, “spicy” and “sweet” attributes, and also had a better final classification

Actualmente las plantaciones de olivar tienen unas densidades que no suelen superar los 330 olivos por hectárea. El mayor coste su cultivo se produce en la recolección, donde se necesita una gran cantidad de mano de obra. Recientemente ha surgido un nuevo tipo de plantaciones cuyas densidades se acercan a las 2000 plantas por hectárea y donde los olivos se disponen en setos continuos separados unos 3,5 m. La mayor ventaja de este tipo de plantaciones es su recolección totalmente mecanizada, mediante máquinas cabalgadoras que pasan por encima de los setos, en un sistema muy parecido al usado en la vid. Además, estas plantaciones son de muy temprana entrada en producción y muy productivas, al menos en los primeros años. La variedad que se utiliza, casi en exclusiva, para este tipo de plantaciones es ‘Arbequina’. En el presente trabajo se describen los resultados de un ensayo comparativo de variedades que se estableció en el año 2000 y del que se han recogido ya 4 cosechas. Este ensayo incluye las variedades ‘Arbequina’, ‘Arbequina i-18’, ‘Arbosana’, ‘Koroneiki’, ‘Fs-17’ y ‘UC 2-35’. De ellas, ‘Arbequina’ y ‘Arbosana’ han sido las más productivas y ‘UC 2-35’ la menos vigorosa de las ensayadas. También se describen los resultados de un ensayo comparativo de densidades desde 754 a 2580 plantas/ha que fue establecido en el año 1999. Hasta ahora, la densidad más productiva parece ser la de 2000 plantas/ha. Habrá que esperar a los próximos años para tener resultados más definitivos sobre éstos ensayos ya que es de esperar que a partir de ahora es cuando aparezcan los problemas relacionados con la competencia entre árboles. En conclusion, en un escenario donde las ayudas de la Unión Europea van a ir disminuyendo progresivamente, y donde la mano de obra es cada vez más difícil de encontrar, la capacidad real de este tipo de plantaciones de ser rentables a largo plazo determinará el futuro éxito de las mismas., Revista de Ciências Agrárias, vol. 30 n.º 1 (2007)

This work analyzes the effect of soil salinity on olive oil quality. The chemical composition of oils extracted from young ‘Arbequina' olives subject in the field to three soil salinity levels (low-L, medium-M and high-H) was determined throughout a period of three years. A total of 30 parameters were analyzed (moisture, oil content, acidity, peroxides, ultraviolet absorbances, poliphenols, aliphatic alcohols, sterols, waxes, and fatty acid composition). Soil salinity was measured on fourteen different dates with an electromagnetic sensor. Overall, salinity increased oil content (+15 % in H with respect to L) and decreased aliphatic alcohols (-29 %) and palmitoleic acid (-32 %) (values significant at P0,05). In summary, olive oil quality was practically independent of soil salinity and, according to the prevailing legislation, all the oils were classified as “extra virgin”. Este trabajo analiza el efecto de la salinidad edáfica sobre la calidad del aceite de oliva. Durante tres campañas se determinó la composición química de aceites provenientes de olivos jóvenes ‘Arbequina' sujetos en campo a tres niveles de salinidad (baja-B, media-M y alta-A). En total se analizaron 30 parámetros (humedad, grasa, acidez, peróxidos, lecturas en el ultravioleta, polifenoles, alcoholes alifáticos, esteroles, ceras y composición de ácidos grasos). La salinidad edáfica se midió en catorce fechas con un sensor electromagnético. La salinidad produjo un aumento del porcentaje de grasa (+15 % en A respecto a B), y un descenso de los alcoholes alifáticos (-29 %) y del ácido palmitoleico (-32 %) (valores significativos a P0,05). En conclusión, la calidad del aceite de oliva fue prácticamente independiente de la salinidad, clasificándose en todos los casos como “virgen extra” según la normativa vigente.

The influence of temperature and olive root exudates on Heterodera mediterranea egg hatch and the effects of H. mediterranea on the growth of two olive cultivars (Arbequina and Picual) were investigated. Egg hatch occurred over a temperature range of 10 to 30ºC and was optimal at 20 to 25ºC. There were no differences in egg hatch between sterile deionized distilled water or root exudate dilutions (undiluted, diluted 1:1, and 1:2) of Arbequina and Picual at 20ºC. Heterodera mediterranea reproduced on both olive cultivars in growth chambers at 25ºC. Soil and root final nematode populations, as well as total number of cysts per plant and reproduction rate, were significantly higher in Arbequina than in Picual. Shoot dry and root fresh weights as well as increases of shoot height, trunk diameter, and numbers of nodes were significantly suppressed by infection with 10,000 eggs + second-stage juveniles/pot in Arbequina but not in Picual., Research supported in part by a bilateral program funded by Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientı´ficas (CSIC), Spain, and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerce (CNR), Italy (grant #99IT0009). Grant CAO99-010-C3-01 from the Instituto Nacional de Tecnologias Agroalimentarias (INIA).

O olival de regadio tem tido grande expansão nos últimos anos no Alentejo, sendo a administração da rega mais adequada às necessidades hídricas um dos fatores determinantes da sua boa gestão. No presente trabalho, avaliou-se a resposta de duas variedades de Olea europaea, Cobrançosa e Arbequina, em regime intensivo e super- intensivo, respetivamente, a duas dotações de rega, a normalmente utilizada pelo agricultor (RA) e outra experimental, com dotações acima (RA+) ou abaixo (RA−) das praticados em RA. Mediram-se os principais parâmetros hídricos das plantas e o teor em clorofilas, e registou-se a assinatura espectral em folhas adultas e jovens, ao meio- dia solar, em três épocas do ano, primavera, final do verão e inverno de 2011. Em Outubro foi feita a colheita, tendo-se quantificado a produção em termos de produção total e teor de óleo na matéria seca, e a qualidade do azeite em termos de acidez e oxidação. Face aos resultados, conclui-se que no olival intensivo de Cobrançosa, na rega experimental (RA+), acima da praticada pelo agricultor, não se verificou diferenças significativas na produção total nem no teor de óleo na matéria seca. Não se verificaram também diferenças significativas entre as regas nos parâmetros hídricos avaliados. Quanto ao olival super-intensivo de Arbequina, a rega experimental (RA−), deficitária relativamente à do agricultor (RA), acarretou menor produção, associada a menor teor relativo de água nas folhas, potenciais hídricos mais negativos e menor condutância estomática no final do verão e inverno, mantendo-se no entanto o teor de óleo nos frutos. O teor em clorofilas e alguns índices de vegetação foram influenciados pelo regime de rega apenas em algumas das datas. Nos dois olivais, as regas experimentais não influenciaram a qualidade do azeite, tendo-se obtido azeites extra virgem com propriedades semelhantes aos das modalidades RA. O estudo prossegue em 2012.