Abstract:

To screen superior olive cultivars suitable for cultivation in southern China and further guide the development of the olive industry, this study conducted a comprehensive analysis and tracking investigation of two olive cultivars, Arbequina and Nichiskii Ⅰ, planted in 2018. The results showed that both cultivars began flowering and fruiting two years after planting. After six years, their tree heights reached 3.21 and 3.34 m, with tree diameters of 8.19 and 8.39 cm, respectively. Arbequina produced round fruits with an average single fruit weight of 1.34 g. Its fresh fruit yield per 667 m² was 654.85 kg, yielding 68.76 kg of olive oil, with oil extraction and oil content rates of 10.59% and 14.90%, respectively. Nichiskii Ⅰ produced olive fruits with an average single fruit weight of 4.24 g. Its fresh fruit yield per 667 m² was 1 050.00 kg, yielding 81.90 kg of olive oil, with oil extraction and oil content rates of 7.89% and 14.00%, respectively. The peroxide values of olive oil from both cultivars were 0.067%, while acid values were 1.20 and 0.11 mg·g^-1 for Arbequina and Nichiskii Ⅰ.The ultraviolet absorbance values D₂₃₂,D₂₇₀,and ΔD₂₇₀ of the olive oil from the Douguo variety are 1.871 1, 0.207 6, and 0.001, respectively. For the Ni I variety, the ultraviolet absorbance values D₂₃₂,D₂₇₀,and ΔD₂₇₀ are 1.934 0, 0.202 0, and 0.003, respectively. The quality of oil from both varieties meets the, respectively, meeting the quality standards for extra virgin olive oil. The unsaturated fatty acid content accounted for 76.19% and 78.18% of total fatty acids in Arbequina and Nichiskii Ⅰ, respectively. These findings indicate that both cultivars demonstrate strong adaptability to mountainous regions in southern China, with excellent oil yield and quality, highlighting their significant application prospects.

Key words: olive(Olea europaea L.), the South of China, superior cultivars, yield, quality