Chemical Profiling of Bosana Virgin Olive Oils Produced in Different Areas of Sardinia

Abstract

In a 3-year study, the chemical compositions of extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) of Bosana variety deriving from three different growing areas in Northern Sardinia were characterized, together with the pedo-climatic conditions of the three different growing areas, to gauge any differences at the chemical level. The main chemical differences in the oils from the three-studied areas were recorded in the fatty acid profiles [palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acid; sum of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids]: these dissimilarities were ascribable to the environmental characteristics of the Alghero area, while others analytical parameters such as tocopherols, pigments, phenolic, and volatile compounds were not affected by production area. Fatty acids profile revealed a clear relation with temperature at a mesoclimate level, allowing a clusterization of the production areas. Our study provided evidences that pedo-climatic factors affect the quality of EVOO; in particular, in the case of Bosana cultivar the acidic fraction resulted one of the main traits differentiating the olive growing areas.

Correlation between microbial communities and volatile organic compounds in an urban soil provides clues on soil quality towards sustainability of city flowerbeds

“…Before VOC analysis, the collected soil samples were homogenized to create a uniform sample [ 32 ] and stabilized at ambient temperature [ 33 ]. Volatiles were measured using a dynamic headspace (DHS) technique system followed by gas-chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis based on the procedure developed in our laboratories for different media [ 28 , 34 ], optimized for determination of polar and nonpolar volatile compounds in the headspace of the soil samples and modified as follows. Optimal headspace parameters were: 300 g of soil samples (mainly backfill) transferred into a 500-ml glass container and kept at room temperature for 5 min to reach equilibrium conditions and to prevent alteration of the volatiles; glass container connected via Teflon tubing to a homemade Zero Air Generator, with the gas inlet located at 1 cm from the top of the extraction vessel; outlet of the extraction system connected to steel tubes packed with Tenax TA 35/60 and Carbograph 1 TD 40/60 ® (Markes International, Ltd, Llantrisant, UK) connected to an external pump (Pocket Pump SKC Inc., USA) adsorbing at flow rate of 200 ml min −1 (12 l air collection).…”

Influence of Chabazite Zeolite Foliar Applications Used for Olive Fruit Fly Control on Volatile Organic Compound Emission, Photosynthesis, and Quality of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

“…Olea europaea L. is a low-emitting species with no or very low biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions, and studies on its BVOC are still scarce [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. BVOCs include compounds of diverse chemical classes, such as isoprene, terpenes, alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, esters, carbonyls, and acids, and different physiological processes in many plant tissues produce them.…”