Characterization of monovarietal virgin olive oils from introduced cultivars in eastern Morocco

The aim of this study was to characterize monovarietal virgin olive oils (VOOs) of new high-density planting system of three European cultivars (Arbequina, Arbosana and Koroneiki), recently introduced in eastern Morocco. VOOs’ characterization has been carried out by analyzing several parameters, such as quality indexes, fatty acid contents, minor components, and olive oils’ oxidative stability index (OSI). In this study, we have also conducted a comparison between these monovarietal VOOs and olive oils of autochthones cultivar Picholine marocaine. Significant differences between the analyzed VOOs were highlighted. Koroneiki’s VOO had a high phenols content (493.66 mg/kg) and, consequently, the best oxidative stability (94.83 h); Arbrosana’s VOO was distinguished by its abundance of α-tocopherol (460.07 mg/kg) and by an intermediate OSI (64.83 h). In addition, results showed, firstly, that in all the analyzed oils decarboxymethyl ligstroside aglycone and decarboxymethyl oleuropein aglycone were the main phenolic compounds, and, secondly, that VOOs of Koroneiki and Arbosana seem to have similar profiles, with a high content of natural antioxidants and a high oleic/linoleic ratio, thus boasting a better shelf life.