Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth and on micronutrient and macronutrient uptake and allocation in olive plantlets growing under high total Mn levels.

The reported work was designed to increase knowledge about the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the phytoavailability and allocation of some of the principal macroelements and microelements in young potted olive plants growing in a soil presenting high levels of manganese (Mn), taken from an experimental olive field. A greenhouse trial was performed using self-rooted cuttings of Ascolana tenera, Nocellara del Belice and Carolea cultivars inoculated or not with two mycorrhizal inocula (commercial vs native). Molecular characterization of the indigenous AMF indicated that the species found in the experimental soil were different from those present in the commercial inoculum. The important incidence of AMF on P uptake was confirmed with generally double the concentration in mycorrhizal olive plants as compared to non-mycorrhizal controls, irrespective of genotype and inocula. Furthermore, apart from promoting plant growth (from 1.7- to 5-fold), the symbiosis reduced Mn concentrations from 43 to 83%. The observed differences depended on the cultivar and the inoculum, with native AMF being more effective probably as a result of their adaptation to the experimental soil. No clear direct relationship was found between AMF inoculation and other elements analysed.

Quality and trace element profile of Tunisian olive oils obtained from plants irrigated with treated wastewater.

In the present work the use of treated wastewater (TWW) to irrigate olive plants was monitored. This type of water is characterized by high salinity and retains a substantial amount of trace elements, organic and metallic compounds that can be transferred into the soil and into the plants and fruits. In order to evaluate the impact of TWW on the overall quality of the oils, the time of contact of the olives with the soil has been taken into account. Multi-element data were obtained using ICP-MS. Nineteen elements (Li, B, Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Sc, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Mo, Ba and La) were submitted for statistical analysis. Using analysis of variance, linear discriminant analysis and principal component analysis it was possible to differentiate between oils produced from different batches of olives whose plants received different types of water. Also, the results showed that there was correlation between the elemental and mineral composition of the water used to irrigate the olive plots and the elemental and mineral composition of the oils.

Demethyloleuropein and beta-glucosidase activity in olive fruits.

Demethyloleuropein plays a major role in the defense mechanism of olive fruits. To understand how this molecule is metabolized during different stages of maturation of olive fruits, a biomolecular approach to identify the demethyloleuropein chemistry was employed. The beta-glucosidase activity in crude extracts was assayed spectrophotometrically using the chromogenic substrate p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside. Demethyloleuropein was extracted and identified by HPLC-MS from both infected and uninfected olive fruits at different physiological stages. The release of more functionally relevant dialdehydes in uninfected fruits was investigated using ESIMS/ MS. In fruits harvested in October, the activity of beta-glucosidase was significantly enhanced in uninfected fruits when compared to the infected fruits. Quantitative differences in the demethyloleuropein content from uninfected fruits showed the highest values (5.09 mg/g) in October, whereas lower levels (4.44 mg/g) were found in infected fruits. The results demonstrated that demethyloleuropein derivatives could be influenced by beta-glucosidase activity to improve the quality of the olive products with the best dialdehyde nutraceutical content.