Abstract
No previous information exists on the effect of deficit irrigation during pit hardening and the processing of Manzanilla de Sevilla Spanish style green table olives on the phytoprostanes (PhytoPs) contents in the fruit flesh. In this paper, the influence of different irrigation treatments during pit hardening on the PhytoPs content of raw and processed olive flesh was studied. PhytoPs profile in the raw olive flesh was characterized by the presence of 9-F1t-PhytoP, 9-epi-9-F1t-PhytoP, 16-B1-PhytoP and 9-L1-PhytyoP.Fruit yield and fruit size was not affected by deficit irrigation, but PhytoPs content in the raw and processed olive flesh was enhanced. After olive fruit processing only 9-F1t-PhytoP and 9-epi-9-F1t-PhytoP were detected, which enhanced their contents. Consequently, table olive tree culture under deficit irrigation conditions during pit hardening and the processing of its fruits to obtain Spanish-style olives can be considered as complementary actions to enhancing the PhytoP content and hence their potential beneficial effects on human health.