| Abstract
| - The HPLC phenolic profile of virgin olive oils obtained from young olive trees (Arbequina cv.) grownunder different deficit irrigation strategies was studied. Deficit irrigation (RDI) did not affect all thephenolic compounds in the same way. Lignans, vanillic acid, vanillin, and the unknown phenoliccompound named P24 increased in the oils from the most irrigated treatments. The secoiridoidderivatives and the unknown phenolic compound named P19 increased in the oils from the moststressed irrigation treatments. The period of growth where a water stress significantly affects thephenolic profile of oils was between pit hardening and the first stages of fruit growth and oilaccumulation, independently of the water applied during the previous period to harvest. The phenolicprofile and those parameters related to phenol content, oxidative stability, and the bitter index weresignificantly affected only in the most severe RDI strategies. Other strategies produced importantsavings in irrigation requirements and an increase in the water use efficiency without noticeablyaffecting the phenolic profile. Keywords: Arbequina cultivar; deficit irrigation strategy; olive oil; phenolic compounds
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