Fruit Cuticle Composition in ‘Arbequina’ Olive: Time–Course Changes along On-Tree Ripening under Irrigated and Rain-Fed Conditions

Olive (Olea europaea L.) fruit and derived products play a pivotal role in the Mediterranean diet, to which they contribute their gastronomic value health-promoting properties. The cuticle constitutes interface between plant surrounding environment, it modulates relevant traits such as water loss, mechanical resistance, susceptibility pests rots. Hence, better knowledge of properties impact thereupon agronomic factors could help improving olive grove management. In this work, time–course changes yields composition were assessed during on-tree ripening ‘Arbequina’ olives obtained from irrigated or rain-fed trees grown at commercial located El Soleràs (Catalonia, Spain), where low annual rainfall occur together with cold winters hot dry summers. Significantly higher wax contents observed for than fruits, both relative (% over total cuticle) absolute terms (from 231 840 µg cm−2 212 560 cm−2, respectively, contingent upon maturity stage), agreement proposed barrier against loss. Compositional differences cuticular waxes cutin monomers also detected olives, major involving significantly loads per surface area triterpenoids ω-hydroxy fatty acids latter. contrast load wax, no apparent irrigation was on either thickness.