Pollinator Impact on the Sterolic and the Triterpenic Dialcohol Composition of Virgin Olive Oils (VOOs) from Southern Tunisia Autochthonous Varieties

The aim of this work was to first, study the chemical characteristics of virgin olive oils produced by two varieties grown in southern Tunisia, and second to compare with the olive oil of their pollinator. The sterols and triterpenic dialcohols compositions of all the samples lay within the established regulatory limits. The main sterols found were β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol, and campesterol. The amounts of minor sterols (24-methylene cholesterol, Δ7-avenasterol, and Δ7-stigmastenol) varied widely according to the varieties. The levels of erythrodiol and uvaol were below the upper legal limit of 4.5% in all analyzed samples. The lipoxygenase products were the major components in only some varieties. The results showed that the pollinator has no effect on the chemical composition of the olive oil of the autochthonous varieties.