Differential olive grove management regulates the levels of primary metabolites in xylem sap

Aims: The conventional management adopted in many Mediterranean olive orchards makes them more vulnerable to climate change and attacks by pathogens, due to the decreased chemical plant defenses. In this scenario, a metabolomic analysis was carried out on the xylem sap (X) of olive plants (Olea europaea L.) grown in the Salento peninsula (Italy). Methods: Trials were carried out in two olive groves, one organically and one conventionally managed (controls), successively both converted to sustainable management (i.e. frequent light pruning, soil and foliar fertilization, cover crops). The X was extracted from the shoots of olive plants using a Scholander pressure chamber pressurized with N and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolite profiling was performed in the X. Results: An untargeted gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) based metabolomic analysis of primary metabolites (including underivatized volatiles) of the X revealed relative abundances of 153 identified metabolites and 336 unknown features across the 12 samples from four groups of samples. Among them, more than half were involved in the primary metabolism. Many of the compounds with increased levels under sustainable management (such as amino acids, soluble sugars, sugar alcohols) have a well-known role as osmoprotectants or are involved in plant defense, growth and development during stress or recovery stages. Conclusions: Sustainable management in olive groves can increase the ability of plants to overcome environmental stressors and enhance ecosystem balance.