Influence of crop season and cultivar on sterol composition of monovarietal olive oils in Reggio Calabria (Italy)

Sterol composition was studied for three successive crop seasons in some olive oils extracted from Italian cultivars grown in Reggio Calabria Province, Southern Italy. Three autochthonous cultivars from Calabria Region: Cassanese,Ottobratica, and Sinopolese and seven allochthonous cultivars: Coratina, Itrana, Leccino, Nocellara Messinese, Nociara,Pendolino, and Picholine were investigated. The studied olive oils showed an acceptable sterol composition inaccordance with either the European Union or International Olive Oil Council regulations. The Picholine cultivarshowed the highest content of total sterol, β-sitosterol, chlerosterol, campesterol, and of cholesterol. The contentsof Δ5-avenasterol, Δ5,24-stigmastadienol, 24-methylene-cholesterol, and Δ7-avenasterol were high in Nociara cultivar,whereas Pendolino cultivar had the highest content of sitostanol and Sinopolese cultivar gave the highest content ofstigmasterol. Results confirmed the existing significant differences (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) in the cultivar, crop season,and crop season × cultivar.