Influence of the Invasive Species <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (Tree of Heaven) on Yield Performance and Olive Oil Quality Parameters of Young Olive Trees cv. Koroneiki Under Two Distinct Irrigation Regimes

<i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (<i>AA</i>) is an invasive tree species rapidly spreading worldwide, colonizing both urban and agricultural or forestry environments. This three-year study aimed to assess its effects on the growth and yield traits of the Koroneiki olive cultivar un...

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Main Authors: Asimina-Georgia Karyda, Petros Anargyrou Roussos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Applied Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7678
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author Asimina-Georgia Karyda
Petros Anargyrou Roussos
author_facet Asimina-Georgia Karyda
Petros Anargyrou Roussos
author_sort Asimina-Georgia Karyda
collection DOAJ
description <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (<i>AA</i>) is an invasive tree species rapidly spreading worldwide, colonizing both urban and agricultural or forestry environments. This three-year study aimed to assess its effects on the growth and yield traits of the Koroneiki olive cultivar under co-cultivation in pots, combined with two irrigation regimes, full and deficit irrigation (60% of full). Within each irrigation regime, olive trees were grown either in the presence or absence (control) of <i>AA</i>. The trial evaluated several parameters, including vegetative growth, yield traits, and oil quality characteristics. Co-cultivation with <i>AA</i> had no significant impact on tree growth after three years, though it significantly reduced oil content per fruit. Antioxidant capacity of the oil improved under deficit irrigation, while <i>AA</i> presence did not significantly affect it, except for an increase in o-diphenol concentration. Neither the fatty acid profile nor squalene levels were significantly influenced by either treatment. Fruit weight and color were primarily affected by deficit irrigation. During storage, olive oil quality declined significantly, with pre-harvest treatments (presence or absence of <i>AA</i> and full or deficit irrigation regime) playing a critical role in modulating several quality parameters. In conclusion, the presence of <i>AA</i> near olive trees did not substantially affect the key quality indices of the olive oil, which remained within the criteria for classification as extra virgin.
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spelling doaj-art-8436bc5d63534ebf92422fbed4ebc98e2025-08-20T03:58:30ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-07-011514767810.3390/app15147678Influence of the Invasive Species <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (Tree of Heaven) on Yield Performance and Olive Oil Quality Parameters of Young Olive Trees cv. Koroneiki Under Two Distinct Irrigation RegimesAsimina-Georgia Karyda0Petros Anargyrou Roussos1Laboratory of Pomology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Pomology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece<i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (<i>AA</i>) is an invasive tree species rapidly spreading worldwide, colonizing both urban and agricultural or forestry environments. This three-year study aimed to assess its effects on the growth and yield traits of the Koroneiki olive cultivar under co-cultivation in pots, combined with two irrigation regimes, full and deficit irrigation (60% of full). Within each irrigation regime, olive trees were grown either in the presence or absence (control) of <i>AA</i>. The trial evaluated several parameters, including vegetative growth, yield traits, and oil quality characteristics. Co-cultivation with <i>AA</i> had no significant impact on tree growth after three years, though it significantly reduced oil content per fruit. Antioxidant capacity of the oil improved under deficit irrigation, while <i>AA</i> presence did not significantly affect it, except for an increase in o-diphenol concentration. Neither the fatty acid profile nor squalene levels were significantly influenced by either treatment. Fruit weight and color were primarily affected by deficit irrigation. During storage, olive oil quality declined significantly, with pre-harvest treatments (presence or absence of <i>AA</i> and full or deficit irrigation regime) playing a critical role in modulating several quality parameters. In conclusion, the presence of <i>AA</i> near olive trees did not substantially affect the key quality indices of the olive oil, which remained within the criteria for classification as extra virgin.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7678<i>Olea europaea</i> L.acidityperoxidesKappasphenolic compoundsantioxidant capacity
spellingShingle Asimina-Georgia Karyda
Petros Anargyrou Roussos
Influence of the Invasive Species <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (Tree of Heaven) on Yield Performance and Olive Oil Quality Parameters of Young Olive Trees cv. Koroneiki Under Two Distinct Irrigation Regimes
Applied Sciences
<i>Olea europaea</i> L.
acidity
peroxides
Kappas
phenolic compounds
antioxidant capacity
title Influence of the Invasive Species <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (Tree of Heaven) on Yield Performance and Olive Oil Quality Parameters of Young Olive Trees cv. Koroneiki Under Two Distinct Irrigation Regimes
title_full Influence of the Invasive Species <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (Tree of Heaven) on Yield Performance and Olive Oil Quality Parameters of Young Olive Trees cv. Koroneiki Under Two Distinct Irrigation Regimes
title_fullStr Influence of the Invasive Species <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (Tree of Heaven) on Yield Performance and Olive Oil Quality Parameters of Young Olive Trees cv. Koroneiki Under Two Distinct Irrigation Regimes
title_full_unstemmed Influence of the Invasive Species <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (Tree of Heaven) on Yield Performance and Olive Oil Quality Parameters of Young Olive Trees cv. Koroneiki Under Two Distinct Irrigation Regimes
title_short Influence of the Invasive Species <i>Ailanthus altissima</i> (Tree of Heaven) on Yield Performance and Olive Oil Quality Parameters of Young Olive Trees cv. Koroneiki Under Two Distinct Irrigation Regimes
title_sort influence of the invasive species i ailanthus altissima i tree of heaven on yield performance and olive oil quality parameters of young olive trees cv koroneiki under two distinct irrigation regimes
topic <i>Olea europaea</i> L.
acidity
peroxides
Kappas
phenolic compounds
antioxidant capacity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/14/7678
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AT petrosanargyrouroussos influenceoftheinvasivespeciesiailanthusaltissimaitreeofheavenonyieldperformanceandoliveoilqualityparametersofyoungolivetreescvkoroneikiundertwodistinctirrigationregimes