Effect of Agronomical Factors and Storage Conditions on the Tocopherol Content of Oblica and Leccino Virgin Olive Oils

The influence of agronomical factors (two growing areas and four harvest periods) and storage conditions of virgin olive oils (room temperature, +4 and -20 A degrees C) on tocopherols was investigated on two cultivars having significantly different tocopherol content (Oblica 269-443 mg/kg, Leccino 403-784 mg/kg). alpha-Tocopherol accounted for 97 % of total tocopherols and its content decreased during ripening of both cultivars. In a warmer growing area both cultivars gained a higher gamma-tocopherol content while only Leccino showed a higher content of alpha-tocopherol. After 12 months of storage alpha-tocopherol content decreased by up to 27 %. Lower storage temperatures did not always contribute to the higher stability of alpha-tocopherol compared to room temperature.