STEPWISE FIELD MONITORING OF OLIVE RIPENESS: NON-DESTRUCTIVE ASSESSMENT OF KALINJOT, LECCINO, AND FRANTOIO CULTIVARS IN ALBANIA

Olive cultivation is a cornerstone of Albania's agricultural sector, encompassing both native and introduced cultivars that contribute to rural livelihoods and high-quality extra virgin olive oil production.This study evaluated the ripening dynamics and key quality parameters of three olive cultivars-native Kalinjot and introduced Leccino and Frantoio-using both destructive and non-destructive techniques across nine harvest intervals during the 2024 season.Non-destructive methods, including colorindex (CI), DA-Meter, and Kiwi-Meter measurements, were integrated with traditional assessments such as maturity index (MI), flesh firmness, detachment index (DI), oil content, and total phenolic compounds to monitor ripening directly in the field.Results revealed cultivar-specific maturation patterns: Leccino ripened earliest (late October), Frantoio exhibited intermediate timing (early November), and Kalinjot matured latest (mid-December), reflecting differences in pigmentation, firmness, and detachment dynamics.Kalinjot demonstrated the highest oil accumulation and phenolic content, confirming its potential for late-season harvest and high-quality oil production.Non-destructive indices closely mirrored destructive measurements, validating their utility for real-time, field-based monitoring of fruit ripeness.These findings highlight the importance of cultivar-specific harvest strategies and demonstrate that integrating rapid, nondestructive assessment tools can optimize harvest timing, support efficient orchard management, and enhance olive oil quality under variable environmental conditions.