The effects of cultivar and harvest year on the fatty alcohol composition of olive oils from Southwest Calabria (Italy)

The fatty alcohol (FAL) composition of olive oils produced in Southwest Calabria (Southern Italy) was analyzed over three harvest years 2005-2006-2007. Three autochthonous cultivars: Cassanese, Ottobratica, Sinopolese and seven allochtonous cultivars: Coralina, Itrana, Leccino, Nocellara Messinese, Nociara, Pendolino and Picholine were considered. Hexacosanol was always the main FAL occurring in the olive oil. The autochthonous cultivars were among those with the highest total FAL contents. Nevertheless, both autochthonous and allochthonous cultivars produced olive oil within the limit indicated by EU and IOC regulations. Cultivar affected the FAL content highly significantly or very highly significantly, whereas in a large part of the cases the harvest year did not influence the FAL content. Cultivar x harvest year influenced highly significantly or very highly significantly only C sub(22-OH), C sub(23-OH), C sub(24-OH), C sub(25-OH), odd chain FALs and the ratio even chain/odd chain FALs.Original Abstract: Se ha analizado, durante tres cosechas 2005-2006-2007, la composicion de alcoholes grasos (FAL) de aceites de oliva producidos en el suroeste de Calabria (sur de Italia). Se consideraron tres cultivares autoctonos: Cassanese, Ottobratica y Sinopolese y siete aloctonas: Coratina, Itrana, Leccino, Nocellara Messinese, Nociara, Pendolino y Picholine. Hexacosanol fue siempre el principal FAL en los aceites de oliva. Los cultivares autoctonos se encuentran entre los de mayor contenido total de FAL. No obstante, ambos cultivares, autoctonos y aloctonos producen aceites de oliva dentro de los limites de los reglamentos de la UE y del COI. Los cultivares afectan de manera altamente significativa o muy significativa al contenido de FAL, mientras que el ano de cosecha no influyo en el contenido de FAL. Cultivar x ano de cosecha influye de manera altamente significativa o muy significativa sobre C sub(22-OH), C sub(23-OH), C sub(24-OH), C sub(25-OH), al total de alcoholes grasos de cadena impar y a la relacion: FALs cadena par/FALcadena impar.