Preliminary Characterization of monovarietal virgin olive oils produced in eastern area of Morocco

Traditional olive oil production is limited by its high cost, mainly due to labour expenses for harvesting and pruning. New olive cultivars (e.g. Arbequina, Arbosana, Koroneiki) with greater
adaptability to modern irrigated high-density orchards and producing good quality olive oils are highly demanded by an olive oil industry in continuous change The aim of this study is the characterization of monovarietal virgin olive oils from three cultivars (Arbequina, Arbosana and Koroneiki) recently introduced in east of Morocco, and the comparison with traditional local Picholine Marocaine olive oil. Several analytical parameters were evaluated; including quality index, Triacylglycerol, fatty acids, phenolic and chlorophyll contents and oxidative stability. Significant differences between the analysed olive oils were detected. Olive oils from Koroneiki and Arbosana cultivars had higher values of oleic acid (respectively 76.24 and 75.68 %); Picholine olive oil, had the lowest one 67.49%. Koroneiki olive oil was noteworthy for its higher content of phenolic compounds (459.48 mg/ kg) and a high oxidative stability (93.16 h). We concluded that the recently introduced cultivars are well adapted to the eastern area of Morocco and could be of great interest for producing monovarietal olive oils.