EVALUATION OF 'ARBEQUINA' OLIVE OILS FROM DIFFERENT GROWING AREAS OF SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA

The ‘Arbequina’ cultivar has the largest number of acres planted in San Juan province, Argentina. The purpose of this study was to characterize ‘Arbequina’ olive oils from different agro-climatic areas: Pocito, San Martin and Sarmiento. From each one, three farms with similar cultivation characteristics (irrigation, plantation model) were selected. Oil quality parameters, stability and fatty acid profiles were evaluated from four successive years (2007-2010). Agroclimatic variables were considered like number of days with temperatures above 35 and 38°C, maximum, minimum and average temperatures, date of maximum temperature, sum of cold hours <7°C, amount of icy weather and rainfall in mm per year. Chemical data were compared by using ANOVA and Tukey tests. Fruits from Pocito and San Martin localities reached the largest oil yield. There were no significant differences in oxidative stability, as well as total polyphenols evaluation between years of crop seasons and regions. Conversely, significant differences in oleic and linoleic acid contents were found between crop years and between growing areas. Oils from Sarmiento had the best acidic profile. It was noted that the sum of days with temperatures above 35°C affected more than the sum of days with temperatures above 38°C (heat shock) per year, correlated inversely to oleic acids and directly to linoleic acids. It was noted that oils from the warmest years had acidic profiles with low oleic acid content and high linoleic and linolenic acids contents. The quality parameters, of all evaluated samples, were within specifications of an extra virgin olive oil. This work contributes to the characterization of ‘Arbequina’ olive oil from San Juan Province giving useful insights to clear the influence of temperature on fatty acid composition.