CHARACTERIZATION OF PLANT DIVERSITY OF PASTURES AND VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND (VOC) ANALYSIS IN EWE’S MILK FROM A TYPICAL FARM SYSTEM IN THE ALTA MURGIA NATIONAL PARK (SOUTHERN ITALY): OPPORTUNITIES FOR A SUSTAINABLE LAND USE

摘要

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest of consumers\udin traditional dairy products whose origin from defined geographical\udareas is guaranteed. These products are appreciated for the distinctive\udsensorial characteristics, derived by extensive grazing system on natural\udand artificial pastures and traditional cheese-making techniques.\udMoreover, a considerable public interest is also attributed to typical\uddairy products for their role in stimulating the economy of rural areas\udand in preserving environment and biodiversity. Here we present the\udresults of a survey on the botanical composition of Alta Murgia pastures,\udtogether with the analysis of VOCs (volatile organic compounds)\udin milk from ewes reared under a typical farm system in the Alta\udMurgia National Park (Apulia region, southern Italy). Data from two\udless ordinary farm systems are also reported as external reference. The\udbotanical composition of pastures was estimated by three modified\udWhittaker plots placed in the prevailing habitat types. Milk samples\udwere analyzed for VOC compounds by head-space SPME/GC-MS.\udConsumer acceptance of cheese, made from each milk sample using\udhomogeneous traditional cheese-making techniques, was evaluated.\udThe study provides interesting insights on the floral composition of\udAlta Murgia pastures and the first characterization of VOC profiles in\udewe’s raw milk from Alta Murgia.