Stable isotopes, as ecophysiological markers, can be used to assess the geographical origin of food and to analyze varietal behavior against environmental conditions. Several studies have been conducted to characterize Italian extra-virgin olive oils in terms of isotopic compositions. In this paper two case studies are shown: the first one concerns the variability in responses of different olive varieties to the environmental conditions of a common experimental site; the second case is an analysis of traceability of Italian extra-virgin olive oils over the national scale. In the first case study, relevant correlations have been found among fatty acids and isotopic compositions of C and O (!13C and !18O). In the second case study, the variability of isotopic compositions has been evaluated on a large number of Italian oil samples of known geographical origin, by combining stable isotopes mass spectrometry and spatial analysis techniques. All over the Italian territory, various isotopically homogeneous regions have been found, thus modelling a zonation of expected isotopic signatures. Such a zonation can be addressed to verify the declared geographical provenance of extra-virgin olive oils.
Agro-biodiversità e tracciabilità in Olea europea. Sostenibilità e adattamento dell’agroalimentare al cambiamento climatico
FARINELLI, Daniela;FAMIANI, Franco;
2014
Abstract
Stable isotopes, as ecophysiological markers, can be used to assess the geographical origin of food and to analyze varietal behavior against environmental conditions. Several studies have been conducted to characterize Italian extra-virgin olive oils in terms of isotopic compositions. In this paper two case studies are shown: the first one concerns the variability in responses of different olive varieties to the environmental conditions of a common experimental site; the second case is an analysis of traceability of Italian extra-virgin olive oils over the national scale. In the first case study, relevant correlations have been found among fatty acids and isotopic compositions of C and O (!13C and !18O). In the second case study, the variability of isotopic compositions has been evaluated on a large number of Italian oil samples of known geographical origin, by combining stable isotopes mass spectrometry and spatial analysis techniques. All over the Italian territory, various isotopically homogeneous regions have been found, thus modelling a zonation of expected isotopic signatures. Such a zonation can be addressed to verify the declared geographical provenance of extra-virgin olive oils.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.