Volatile fractions from three cultivars of Olea europaea L. collected in two different seasons.

The chemical composition of the volatile fractions from leaves of three Olea europaea L. cultivars (Leccino, Frantoio, and Cipressino) harvested at two different times of the year were examined by GC and GC-MS. The results showed a high content of aliphatic aldehydes in the three cultivars during both harvesting periods and an increase of (E)-2-hexenal (an aldehyde with high antimicrobial properties) percentage from July to November. Keywords: Olea europaea L.; cultivars; Frantoio; Leccino; Cipressino; volatile compounds; aldehydes; terpenes