Analysis of volatile compounds of olive inflorescence of three olive varieties and of essential oils from olive inflorescence have been started at the Faculty of Science in Split as follows:

1) essential oils from olive inflorescence

2) ultrasonic extraction of volatile compounds from olive inflorescence

3) adsorption of volatile compounds of olive inflorescence

4) analysis of volatile compounds on a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer

Lovefly Project Manager (KK.01.1.1.04.0002) PhD Elda Vitanović and project associates PhD Maja Jukić Špika and PhD Marijana Popović participated in the on-line training “Irregularities and the most common problems in project implementation” which was organized by the “Central Finance and Contracting Agency (CFCA)” on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

Hydrodistillation of dried leaves of selected olive varieties was performed in a Clevenger apparatus (for two hours and 30 minutes) in the laboratory of the Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst from September 1 to September 4. The essential oils obtained by the hydrodistillation process were dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate. Samples of essential oils prepared in this way are stored in glass bottles at a temperature of 4°C. These essential oils will determine the profile of volatile substances, which could be responsible for attracting the olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae Rossi).

The following analyzes of sampled plant material were performed at the Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation:

1. analysis of physical parameters of fruits

2. analysis of physical parameters of leaves

3.  preparation of samples for determination of fruits and leaves volatile compounds

4.  determination of the olive fruit fly infestation

5. preparation of samples for determination of fruits and leaves phenolic compounds

6. preparation of samples for extraction of essential oils of leaves

All the above analyzes are carried out for the purpose of isolating volatile compounds, characteristic of a particular olive variety, which could be responsible for the olive fruit fly infestation.

In the first half of August 2020, green fruits and leaves were sampled on three olive varieties in the experimental collection olive orchard of the Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation. The following analyzes will be performed on them:

1. determination of physical parameters of fruits and leaves,

2. determination of fruits and leaves volatile compounds,

3. determination of the olive fruit fly infestation,

4. determination of fruits and leaves phenolic compounds,

5. and the extraction of the essential oils of the leaves for the purpose of determination of the volatile compounds of the essential oils thereof.

All the above analyzes are carried out for the purpose of isolating volatile compounds, characteristic of a certain variety, which could be responsible for the the olive fly attraction.

Project Manager PhD Elda Vitanović made a guest appearance on Croatian radio and television’s Radio Split show “In the Middle of the Day” on Monday, July 20th. During the show, she presented the project “New methods in olive pests controlling using plant volatiles” which is co-financed by EU funds from the Regional Development Fund “Together with EU Funds” under the Operational Program “Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014 -2020” and call “Investing in Science and Innovation – The First Call”. During the conversation, she clearly pointed out the issue of protection of olives from the most economically important pests (Bactrocera oleae Rossi and Prays oleae Bern.), which appeared this year in Croatian olive growing area.

In organization of the Cooperative Association of Dalmatia the 22nd International Manifestation of Olive Growers and Olive Oil Producers “Noćnjak 2020” was opened on June 25, 2020 in the Hotel Kolovare in Zadar. “Noćnjak 2020” was originally scheduled to take place in Supetar in March this year, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was held for the first time in the summer. It lasted until June 27, 2020, and brought together a large number of domestic and foreign olive growers and olive oil producers. As part of the event, about thirty presentations prepared by about fifty scientists and experts were held. Presentations were presented through introductory session on olive growing and olive oil production, scientific conference, practicum on olive growing and olive oil production of the Ministry of Agriculture, round table of the University of Split on olives and climate change, and cooperative hour. There was also a fair of olive growing and olive oil production with about thirty exhibitors, and a practical presentation of works and machinery was held in the hotel olive orchard.

As part of the scientific-professional conference on olive growing and olive oil production, Ana Matešković mag. ing. doctoral student on the project “New methods in olive pests controlling using plant volatiles” presented the project to the public by oral presentation and presented and distributed promotional material (roll-up banner, leaflets) of the project.

The Technology Transfer Office of the University of Split, through the Microsoft Teams system, organized a series of workshops on the topics of intellectual property and the use of patent information:

1. The role of intellectual property protection by patent – basics of intellectual property.

2. Patent databases as a source of information – basics of searching patent databases.

Lovefly Project Manager (KK.01.1.1.04.0002) PhD Elda Vitanović and project associates PhD Maja Jukić Špika and PhD Marijana Popović participated in the mentioned workshops in order to improve their skills in the field of intellectual property and the use of patent information.

More information can be found at (in Croatian):

https://www.unist.hr/novosti/znanost-i-tehnologija/artmid/2419/articleid/13185/ciklus-radionica-o-intelektualnom-vlasni%c5%a1tvu?fbclid=IwAR2KfwM3A96l3l7mUPUHSAVGBTflI2eKwgwN3sGaZCTE5KZBCUbTivCXaTk

Olive fruits of 4-6 mm in size were collected in the experimental olive orchard of the Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation at the beginning of June. An examination of the harvested fruits was carried out to determine the intensity of the attack of the carpophagous generation of olive moth (Prays oleae Bern). The composition of volatile substances of the fruits will be analyzed so that compounds characteristic for a specific variety and which could affect the attractiveness of the olive moth can be isolated.