The Effect of Olive Maturity on Some Quality Parameters of Saurani Olive Oil

Abstract

There are 97 local olive varieties registered in our country, and Saurani is an olive variety from originating Hatay/Altınözü. Hatay province, which ranks first in olive production in the Mediterranean Region, has very suitable climate and soil conditions for olive cultivation. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of olive maturity on quality parameters such as free fatty acids, peroxide value and fatty acid composition of the oil obtained from the Saurani olive variety grown in Hatay. For this purpose, olive oil was obtained by mechanical method from olives collected from Saurani variety in 3 different maturity periods of the 2020 production season. In Saurani olive oil, free fatty acids and peroxide numbers were found in the range of 0.62-0.91 % (oleic acid) and 3.68-5.26 meq O2/kg respectively. The amount of free fatty acids increased with maturity. In Saurani olive oil were determined oleic acid in the range of 66.32%-68.79%, palmitic acid in the range of12.47-13.75%, linoleic acid in the range of 11.43-13.84%, stearic acid in the range of 3.16-3.42%, palmitoleic acid 1.12%-1.34%, linolenic acid 0.88-1.01% and arachidic acid 0.41-0.52. It was determined that decrease in oleic acid content and an increase in linoleic acid content with maturity. It has been determined that Saurani olive oil is within the limits specified in the Turkish Food Codex on Olive Oil and Pirina Olive Oil in terms of the examined properties.