Within the project Innovaoil aimed at experimenting on the introduction of intensive olive growing systems with specific varieties in Abruzzo, the chemical characterization of 38 virgin olive oils obtained from 11 varieties, traditional (Dritta, Leccino, Pendolino, Peranzana) and new for Abruzzo (Arbequina, Arbosana, Koroneiki, Lecciana, Frantene, Fs17, Oliana), bred in the province of Chieti and Pescara with intensive / super-intensive planting layouts and with traditional systems as benchmarks. The samplings (mainly monovarietal, alongside a few blends depending on the vintage) were carried out in the 2019-2020-2021 campaigns, with continuous extraction technology (mainly 3 phases).
The analyzes carried out according to the official methods concerned the conventional quality parameters - acidity, peroxides and UV spectrophotometric indices, fatty acid composition - and qualitative/health parameters or phenolic fraction (total and single polyphenols by HPLC) and tocopherols.
Furthermore, the sampling was evaluated with the Panel test methodology according to the legislation: all the productions were classified EVOO in the Panel test.
The preliminary results, according to the main variables studied, i.e. alternative varieties and training systems to the Abruzzo olive growing-elaiotechnical tradition, did not show significant differences as regards free acidity, peroxides, UV analysis, while the acidic composition, the phenolic fraction and the of tocopherols seem to be related more to the variety and to a lesser extent to the type of olive growing.
(Alessandro Chiaudani, Sara Gaggiotti, Federica Flamminii, Angelo Cichelli – Chieti-Pescara University. V National Conference of Olives and Oil - Alghero)
