Proximate Composition and Oil Quality of Olive Fruits of Exotic Cultivars Grown in Jammu Province

Proximate analysis of olive fruit and biochemical characterization of olive oil of different exotic varieties of olive grown in the intermediate agro-climatic zone of Jammu province of Jammu and Kashmir state was carried out. Seven olive cultivars viz. Leccino, Messinese, Picholina, Etnea, Itrana, Coratina and Zaituna were selected for the purpose. The fruit samples were analyzed for moisture content, crude protein and crude oil content. The oil was analysed for specific gravity, pH, colour, physical state at room temperature (25°C), acid value, peroxide value, saponification value, iodine value and fatty acid profile. Significant differences were found for the observed parameters among different olive cultivars. The wide variability among the different olive cultivars represents a very promising base to recommend the most suitable olive cultivar with high oil quality attributes coupled with better shelf life for commercialization in the intermediate agro-climatic zone of Jammu province of Jammu and Kashmir state.