ABSTRACT

The aim of the present study was to classify extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) from Western Greece according to cultivar and geographical origin, based primarily on triglyceride (TG) composition and secondarily on pigment content (chlorophylls and carotenoids), by means of Linear Discriminant Analysis. A total of 96 olive oil samples were collected during the harvesting periods 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 (48 samples × 2 harvesting periods), from six regions of Western Greece and from five local cultivars. The analysis of TGs was performed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Thirty one different TGs were determined. Using the TG composition data, the olive oil samples were sufficiently classified according to cultivar (89.6%) and geographical origin (75.0%). Combination of TGs data with pigments data resulted in a 91.7% and 83.3% classification, respectively. The olive oil samples of the Koroneiki cultivar were 83.3% correctly classified according to geographical origin, using the TG composition, or TG composition plus pigment content as variables.