Authentication of Tunisian virgin olive oils by chemometric analysis of fatty acid compositions and NIR spectra. Comparison with Maghrebian and French virgin olive oils.

Six Tunisian virgin olive oil (VOO) varieties, Chemlali Sfax, Chetoui, Chemchali, Oueslati, Zarrazi and Zalmati, were characterised by two analytical methods. The gas chromatography allowed the determination of 14 fatty acids and squalene amounts. With fatty acids of each variety, a characteristic "morphotypes" for each oil variety was established. Chemlali Sfax and Zalmati showed strong similarities. Gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and near infrared (NIR) spectra of oils, associated to chemometric treatment, allowed the study of the inter-varietal variability and the verification of the variety origins of some Tunisian commercial VOOs. The specificity of Tunisian VOOs was evaluated by comparing the samples to Algerian, Moroccan and French Protected Designation of Origin VOOs. Classification in varietal origins by SIMCA used the FAME compositions and NIR spectra of the most represented varieties (Chemlali Sfax, Chetoui and Oueslati) showed a high potential to authenticate the varietal origin of Tunisian VOOs.

Effects of crude oil on phospholipid fatty acid compositions of marine hydrocarbon degraders: estimation of the bacterial membrane fluidity.

In this study, we investigated, in vitro, the effects of petroleum hydrocarbons on the phospholipid ester-linked fatty acid composition of Corynebacterium sp. Strain 8. The usual ratio of monounsaturated fatty acids E/Z (or trans/cis) was calculated. This ratio led to unexpected results because we found similar values for growths on either a hydrophobic substrate (crude oil) or a soluble carbon source (rich medium). The use of such an indicator seemed limited for monitoring an environmental stress, so we proposed an index based on the homeoviscous adaptation theory. A membrane viscosity index was defined and applied to Corynebacterium sp. Strain 8 (in vitro growth) and to a sedimentary community (in situ experiment). The results allowed us to estimate the membrane fluidity of both an isolated strain and a bacterial community in accordance with the medium hydrophobicity.