Scientific Study

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a drought-tolerant specie grown under the semiarid conditions of the Mediterranean basin. For this reason, it is essential to make an exhaustive quantification of yield and quality benefits of the kernels because the regulated deficit irrigation will allow significant water savings with a minimum impact on yield, while improving kernel quality. The goal of this scientific work was the study of the influence of the rootstock, water deficit during pit hardening and kernel roasting on pistachio (Pistacia vera, cv. Kerman) fruit yield, fruit size, and kernel content of fatty acids, phytoprostanes (PhytoPs) and phytofurans (PhytoFs) for the first time. Water stress during pit hardening did not affect the pistachio yield. The kernels cultivar showed a lower oleic acid and a higher linoleic acid contents than those found for other cultivars. Kernels from plants grafted on the studied rootstocks showed very interesting characteristics. P. integerrima led to the highest percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids. Regarding the plant oxylipins, P. terebinthus led to the highest contents of PhytoPs and PhytoFs (1260 ng/100g and 16.2 ng/100g, respectively). In addition, nuts from trees cultivated under intermediate water deficit during pit hardening showed increased contents of the 9-series of F1-phytoprostanes and ent-16(RS)-9-epi-ST-Δ14-10-phytofuran. However, roasting of pistachios led to PhytoPs degradation. Therefore, plant cultivar, deficit irrigation, rootstock, and roasting must be considered to enhance biosynthesis of these secondary metabolites. New tools using agricultural strategies to produce hydroSOS pistachios have been opened thanks to the biological properties of these prostaglandins-like compounds linking agriculture, nutrition and food science technology for further research initiatives.