Nutrition Quality Parameters of Almonds as Affected by Deficit Irrigation Strategies.

Lipan Lipan,Hernández Hernández,Cano-Lamadrid Cano-Lamadrid,Moriana Moriana,Sendra Sendra,Lluch Lluch,Vázquez-Araújo Vázquez-Araújo,Corell Corell,Carbonell-Barrachina Carbonell-Barrachina

doi:10.3390/molecules24142646

Abstract

The influence of full irrigation, double-regulated (RDI) and sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) treatments on almond quality was assessed by analyzing different parameters: sugars, organic acids, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and volatile compounds. Almond quality studies for plants submitted to water stress are scarce, and it is essential to understand the biochemical responses of plants to water stress in maintaining fruit yield and quality. Citric acid, sucrose, antioxidant activity, and TPC were not affected by the application of studied deficit irrigation strategies (DI). An increase in malic acid and a decrease in glucose was observed for stressed samples (T3 and T4), while a higher number of total volatiles compounds was found for moderate RDI (T2). Using deficit irrigation strategies, the almond yield and quality was not changed, and in fact, some parameters, such as glucose and key volatile compounds, slightly increased under moderate RDI. This finding might encourage farmers to implement these strategies and contribute to sustainable agriculture.

Highlights

IntroductionFresh (non-salty and adequate for irrigation) water is a limited resource and the uncertainty of the remaining amount for the generation has it this a dramatic global risk factor [1,2]
Fresh water is a limited resource and the uncertainty of the remaining amount for the generation has it this a dramatic global risk factor [1,2]
These results agreed with previous studies on almonds and pistachios grown under regulated deficit irrigation [10,24]

Summary

Introduction

Fresh (non-salty and adequate for irrigation) water is a limited resource and the uncertainty of the remaining amount for the generation has it this a dramatic global risk factor [1,2]. Molecules 2019, 24, 2646 in which fields must deal with limited irrigation water supplies due to scarce rain leading to periodic drought and competitiveness with other productive sectors, such as tourism [4,5] For this reason, identifying agricultural practices that increase water use efficiency is necessary to be able to develop a sustainable agricultural system [6]. When considering the cultivated surface area, almond (Prunus dulcis) is the third most cultivated tree in Spain, and the major tree nut crop in the Mediterranean area [4,6] It is a drought resistant species, it is believed that irrigation is needed to improve yield and fruit quality [7]. Products obtained from plants submitted to a controlled water stress are called hydroSOStainable (hydroSOS) [2,13,14,15,16,17,18,19]

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