Long‑Term Evaluation of Oil Content and Composition in an Olive Hedgerow Cultivar Trial

The adoption of hedgerow systems in olive cultivation has enabled full harvesting mechanization and management efficiency. However, the limited number of suitable cultivars adapted remains a critical constraint for the widespread adoption of this system. Therefore, there is an urgent need for testing the suitability of traditional and newly bred cultivars. This study presents a comprehensive, long-term evaluation (from 2014 to 2022) of oil content and composition in three traditional (“Arbequina,” “Arbosana,” and “Koroneiki”) and three recently bred cultivars for hedgerow system (“Lecciana,” “Oliana,” and “Sikitita”). Among all the traits evaluated, genotype played a dominant role in determining oil composition, particularly oleic and linoleic acid levels, while year effects were notably strong for fruit moisture content and oil yield. “Koroneiki” consistently showed superior oil stability index (OSI) due to its high oleic acid and phenol content. Among the new cultivars tested, “Oliana” had lower oil content and OSI, “Lecciana” stood out for its higher OSI values, while “Sikitita” exhibited high extractability. Only minor differences among cultivars were found for the main organoleptic attributes. The findings highlight that no single cultivar excels across all traits, which underscores the need for extended trials to accurately assess cultivar performance, and guide cultivar choice in hedgerow systems to balance productivity, quality, and OSI under variable conditions.