Gas exchange performance and oxidative stress indicators in olive tree under different deficit irrigation strategies
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The predicted scenario of global warming anticipates severe summer conditions in
the Mediterranean basin, with low water availability and excessive heat load. hlence, in
arder to overcome the constrains that will affect olive groves and its socioeconomic value,
new cropping practices focusing on water use efficiency must be investigated. In this work
we aimed to investigate water management practices that can ensure the adequate
compromise between yield and the quality of olive products. The study was conducted in
Quinta do Prado, Lodões, Vila Flor (41°20'13. 3"N, 7°05'54. 2"W) and different irrigation
strategies where investigated: full irrigation (Fl), equivalent to 100% of crop
evapotranspiration (ETc), as control treatment, sustained déficit irrigation (SDI; 30% of ETc)
and regulated déficit irrigation (RDI; 80% of ETc in phases l and III offruit growth and 10% of
ETc in pit hardening stage). The impact of the treatments on leaf gás exchange and oxidative
stress indicators during the 2016 summer was evaluated. The results indicate that both
déficit irrigation strategies (DIS) allowed to maintain similar values of photosynthetic and
transpjration rate and stomatal conductance as in Fl treatment, even in the afternoon
period, although occasionally lower values were recorded during summer, namely in RDI
plants. Meanwhile, despite the great disparity in the amount of water used among
treatments, there were no significant differences in the degree of oxidative stress, judging
by the comparative values of photosynthetic pigments, soluble proteins, total thiols and
electrolyte leakage. Thus, the DIS used in this study allow an adequate physiological activity
of olive trees and give new insights about the effect of these strategies in olive orchards.
Since the field trial is located in a commercial farm, production costs, returns, and also fruit
quality parameters are being recorded, analysis of which might give an economic insight
regarding the sustainability of the implemented techniques.
