Variation in Fatty Acid Compositions, Oil Content and Oil Yield in a Germplasm Collection of Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

The variation in oil content, oil yield and fatty acid compositions of 103 sesame landraces was investigated. The landraces varied widely in their oil quantity and quality. The oil content varied between 41.3 and 62.7%, the average being 53.3%. The percentage content of linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids in the seed oil ranged between 40.7–49.3, 29.3–41.4, 8.0–10.3 and 2.1–4.8%, respectively. Linolenic and arachidic acids were the minor constituents of the sesame oil. Linoleic and oleic acids were the major fatty acids of sesame with average values of 45.7 and 37.2%, respectively. The total means of oleic and linoleic acids as unsaturated fatty acids of sesame were about 83% which increases the suitability of the sesame oil for human consumption. The superiority of the collection was observed in oil content. The oil content of a few accessions was above 60%, proving claims that some varieties of sesame can reach up to 63% in oil content. The accessions with the highest oil content were relatively richer in the linoleic acid content while there were some landraces in which linoleic and oleic acid contents were in a proportion of almost 1:1. The results obtained in this study provide useful background information for developing new cultivars with a high oil content and different fatty acid compositions. Several accessions could be used as parental lines in breeding programmes aiming to increase sesame oil quantity and quality.     

Association of seed size with genotypic variation in the chemical constituents of soybeans

Ten soybean genotypes grown in 1992 with seed size ranging from 7.6 to 30.3 g/100 seeds and maturity group V or VI were selected and tested for oil and protein content and for fatty acid composition. In these germplasm, protein varied from 39.5 to 50.2%, oil, 16.3 to 21.6%, and protein plus oil, 59.7 to 67.5%. Percentages of individual fatty acids relative to total fatty acids varied as follows: palmitic, 11.0 to 12.8; stearic, 3.2 to 4.7; oleic, 17.6 to 24.2; linoleic, 51.1 to 56.3 and linolenic, 6.9 to 10.0. Seed size showed no significant correlations with individual saturated fatty acids, protein or oil content. However, significant correlations were found between seed size and individual unsaturated fatty acids: positive with oleic, and negative with linoleic and linolenic. Oil and protein content were negatively correlated with each other. Among the major fatty acids, only the unsaturated were significantly correlated with each other: negative between oleic and linoleic or linolenic, and positive between linoleic and linolenic. A subsequent study with soybeans grown in 1993 generally confirmed these findings. Variation in relative percentages of unsaturated fatty acids andr values for most pairs of relationships were even higher than those obtained from the 1992 crop. Presented at the 85th AOCS Annual Meeting and Expo, Atlanta, Georgia, May 8–12, 1994.     

Stand und Perspektiven der Züchtung von “high-oleic” Sonnenblumen für Mitteleuropa

Status and Perspectives of Breeding “high-oleic” Sunflower for Central Europe Sunflower oil with high linoleic acid content is commonly used for nutritional purposes. On the contrary, for ‘non-food’ usages high oleic acid oils would be required. Sunflower inbred lines (I₇), have been selected from mutagenically treated material. Most of these lines produced oils with high levels of linoleic acid (about 80%) in different environments, whereas the highest content of oleic acid was 30% under field conditions and 50% under elevated temperature in in the phytotron. Oleic and linoleic acid contents proved to be highly heritable (h2 = 0.95), although fatty acid composition is usually severely influenced by environemntal factors such as temperature and photoperiod. Stable progeny with approximately 90% oleic acid and little sensitivity to environmental factors could be selected in the USA from crosses to the high-oleic variety ‘Pervenets’. High oleic acid content in these selections is predominantly inherited by a dominant major gene. Activities to transfer this character into adapted European sunflower genotypes were initiated.     

Improvement of Oil Quality in Soybean [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycine max </Emphasis>(L.) Merrill] by Mutation Breeding

Low oxidative stability, off-flavor and rancidity are the major drawbacks of soybean oil. Modification of the fatty acid composition of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] oil can improve its quality and value for processors and acceptability among consumers. Mutation breeding of soybean was therefore initiated with the objective of identifying stable soybean mutants with altered fatty acid composition for improved oxidative stability and nutritional quality. Seeds of soybean cultivar ‘MACS 450’ were treated with γ-radiation and/or ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). The harvest of M₁ plants was evaluated for fatty acid composition by gas chromatography. Highly significant variation in all the fatty acids except palmitic acid was observed. Treatment of EMS in higher concentrations as well as combined treatment of both the mutagens, i.e., γ-radiation and EMS were effective in increasing the variability for the fatty acid content in soybean oil. The variability was skewed towards high levels of oleic (35–42%) and low levels of linolenic acid (3.77–5.00%). M₃ and M₄ generations of desirable variants were analyzed for the stability of the mutated trait_. Only high oleic variants were stable in M₃ and M₄ generations. Based on fatty acid values, oxidative stability index (OSI), nutritional quality index (NQI) and ratio of essential fatty acids (ω₆/ω₃) were calculated for the control and M₂, M₃ and M₄ generations. The ω₆/ω₃ ratio in all the high oleic mutants was within the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended value (5–10%). A significant positive correlation between OSI and oleic acid content (P < 0.001) indicated improved oxidative stability of the oil while retaining nutritional quality. These high oleic lines could be utilized further in breeding programs for improvement of soybean oil quality.     

Soybean Seed Quality Characteristics in Response to Indigenous Bradyrhizobium Inoculation and N Fertilization in Kashmir–Pakistan

The objective of this study was to quantify changes in soybean seed quality characteristics in response to indigenous Bradyrhizobium inoculation and N fertilization applied under field conditions during the years 2009 and 2010. Seven indigenous Bradyrhizobium isolates were isolated from the different locations under the foothills of great Himalayas Rawalakot Kashmir, Pakistan. The field isolates were compared to a reference strain (exotic) TAL102, three N fertilizer rates and to an un‐inoculated control. The seed oil content, fatty acid composition, seed N, P and K concentration and seed N, P and K uptake were quantified. Bradyrhizobium inoculation and N fertilization significantly increased oil content compared to the un‐inoculated control. The seed oil content varied between 16.2 and 21.5 %, highest in the seeds treated with indigenous Bradyrhizobium strains NR₂₂, NR₂₅ and NR₃₅, and mainly composed of linoleic acid (47 %), and oleic acid (24 %). Inoculation and N fertilization both decreased the saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic) and increased unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid and oleic acid). The mineral nutrient content of N, P, and K and their accumulation in seed increased by 2–3‐fold compared to the corresponding control. Indigenous Bradyrhizobium strains were able to generate the highest values for seed oil content (NR₂₂, NR₂₅, and NR₃₅), unsaturated fatty acids, i.e. linoleic acid and oleic acid (NR₂₅, and NR₃₅) and N, P and K uptake (NR₂₀, and NR₂₂). There were noticeable differences among the treatments in terms of essential fatty acid, oil, and mineral nutrient content. The study demonstrates the potential benefits of using indigenous Bradyrhizobium strains in order to achieve high quality soybean seeds that can be used as a balanced health product.     

Ethyl methanesulphonate induced fatty acid mutations in flax

Seed of the flax cultivar McGregor were treated with the chemical mutagen ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) with the objective of producing mutations that reduced the α-linolenic acid content of the seed. From the seed of 2430 M₁ plants initially examined by the thiobarbituric test, 53 were classified as having reduced linolenic acid levels. Utilizing half-seed analysis by gas chromatography, three lines taken through to the M₄ generation had reduced linolenic acid levels, but all three appeared to have different mutations. Mutant E67 has a palmitic acid level of 28.4%, three times the level found in McGregor. Mutant E1747 had a high linoleic content of 52.2%, and mutant E1929 had increased oleic and linoleic levels to twice that of McGregor.     

Protein Content and Oil Composition of Almond from Moroccan Seedlings: Genetic Diversity, Oil Quality and Geographical Origin

The protein and oil content and the fatty acid profile of the kernels of selected almond genotypes from four different Moroccan regions were determined in order to evaluate the kernel quality of the plant material of these different regions. The ranges of oil content (48.7–64.5 % of kernel DW), oleic (61.8–80.2 % of total oil), linoleic (11.4–27.0 %), palmitic (5.6–7.7 %), stearic (1.3–3.1 %), and palmitoleic (0.4–0.9 %) acid percentages agreed with previous results of other almond genotypes, but the protein content (14.1–35.1 % of kernel DW) showed that some genotypes had higher values than any previously recorded in almond. Some genotypes from mountainous regions showed kernels with very high oil content as well as high and consistent oleic and linoleic ratio, establishing a possible differentiation according to the geographical origin. These differences may allow establishing a geographical denomination for almond products. In terms of genetic diversity, oleic and linoleic acids were confirmed to be the most variable components of almond oil chemical composition among genotypes. Additionally, the genotypes with extreme favorable values, such as high protein content, could be incorporated into an almond breeding program aiming at an increase in kernel quality.     

Variation in Seed Oil Content and Fatty Acid Composition of Globe Artichoke Under Different Irrigation Regimes

Seed oil content of globe artichoke and its composition were assessed under three irrigation regimes, including irrigation at 20, 50, and 80 % depletion of soil available water. Water deficit affected the phenological characteristics, amount and the quality of the oil as well as the phenolics and antioxidant activity of the leaves and capitula. The seed oil content ranged from 18.7 % in 80 % to 22.8 % in 20 % treatment. The fatty acid composition of oil was determined using gas chromatography (GC). The predominant fatty acids in the oil were linoleic (51.68 %), oleic (34.22 %), palmitic (9.94 %), and stearic (3.58 %). Water deficit leads to reduced oil content, linoleic acid, the unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio and the iodine value. On the other hand, some other fatty acids such as palmitic and oleic acid and also the ratio of oleic/linoleic acid were elevated due to water deficit. Higher antioxidant activity was observed in capitula (IC₅₀ = 222.6 μg ml^?1) in comparison to the leaves (IC₅₀ = 285.8 μg ml^?1). Finally, the severe drought stress condition caused to gain higher oil stability, while the highest seed oil content and unsaturated fatty acids in the oil was obtained in non‐stress condition. Moreover, high phenolics, flavonoids and antioxidant activity as well as appreciable dry matter content were obtained in the moderate water stress condition.     

Genetic Variability Studies in Seed Biochemical Traits of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre Accessions

A genetic variability study of oil content, fatty acid composition and karanjin content of seeds was carried out in candidate plus trees of Pongamia pinnata from selected agro-ecological zones of southern peninsular India. Significant zonal variation (P < 0.01) for biochemical traits was recorded. Significant positive correlation (P < 0.05) was recorded for latitude with oleic acid. Longitude showed significant negative correlation with palmitic acid and oleic acid. Altitude positively correlated with oleic acid and linolenic acid; negatively correlated with linoleic acid and seed oil content. Phenotypic co-efficient of variation was higher than the genotypic co-efficient of variation for all the biochemical traits. The oleic acid positively correlated with seed oil content (P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with linoleic acid and linolenic acid (P < 0.01). The zone 1, zone 2, zone 3 and zone 4 showed high heritability and genetic advance for oleic acid, linoleic acid and oleic to linoleic acid ratio. Based on Ward's method, the pongamia accessions were grouped into three major clusters and four sub-groups depending on their geographical locations. Further, the results obtained in this study could be used as background information for biofuel programs in India and other tropical countries.     

Der Einfluß der Umwelt auf Fettgehalt und Fettsäuremuster verschiedener Sonnenblumensorten

Environmental Effect on Fat Content and Fatty Acid Pattern of Different Varieties of Sunflower Crude fat content and fatty acid composition have been determined for two years on experimental crops of 8 and 15 varieties respectively of sunflower grown in two different locations in Central Europe and of one variety grown in East Africa. Crude fat content in fruits varied in the different locations (29% in Mozambique compared to 35% in Europe) and also from variety to variety (24.3% upto 45.1%). No correlation existed between the fatty acid composition and oil content. A distinct negative relationship was found between the linoleic and oleic acid content (r = –0.931). Under cold growth conditions an increase in linoleic acid content and a decrease in oleic acid was observed. Under dry and warm conditions during the short days at Mozambique, the level of linoleic acid was 46% compared to 72 in Europe. The corresponding values for oleic acid were on average 17% in Europe and 44% in Mozambique. Certain variational differences were observed, however, only to minute extent compared to locational differences.     

Influence of Temperature on the Fatty Acid Composition of the Oil From Sunflower Genotypes Grown in Tropical Regions

The influence of temperature on the fatty acid composition of the oils from conventional and high oleic sunflower genotypes grown in tropical regions was evaluated under various environmental conditions in Brazil (from 0° S to 23° S). The amounts of the oleic, linoleic, palmitic and stearic fatty acids from the sunflower oil were determined using gas chromatography (GC). The environment exhibited little influence on the amounts of oleic and linoleic fatty acids in high oleic genotypes of sunflower. In conventional genotypes, there was broad variation in the average amounts of these two fatty acids, mainly as a function of the minimum temperature. Depending on the temperature, especially during the maturation of the seeds, the amount of oleic acid in the oil of conventional sunflower genotypes could exceed 70 %. Higher temperatures led to average increases of up to 35 % for this fatty acid. Although the minimum temperature had the strongest effect on the fatty acid composition, locations at the same latitude with different minimum temperatures displayed similar values for both oleic acid and linoleic acid. Furthermore, minimum temperature had little influence on the amounts of palmitic and stearic fatty acids in the oil.     

Genetic diversity for lipid content and fatty acid profile in rice bran

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) bran contains valuable nutritional constituents, which include lipids with health benefits. A germplasm collection consisting of 204 genetically diverse rice accessions was grown under field conditions and evaluated for total oil content and fatty acid (FA) composition. Genotype effects were highly statistically significant for lipid content and FA profile (P<0.001). Environment (year) significantly affected oil content (P<0.05), as well as stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids (all with P<0.01 or lower), but not palmitic acid. The oil content in rice bran varied relatively strongly, ranging from 17.3 to 27.4% (w/w). The major FA in bran oil were palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids, which were in the ranges of 13.9–22.1, 35.9–49.2, and 27.3–41.0%, respectively. The ratio of saturated to unsaturated FA (S/U ratio) was highly related to the palmitic acid content (r ²=0.97). Japonica lines were characterized by a low palmitic acid content and S/U ratio, whereas Indica lines showed a high palmitic acid content and a high S/U ratio. The variation found suggests it is possible to select for both oil content and FA profile in rice bran.     

Effect of planting date on sunflower seed oil content,fatty acid composition and yield in Florida

Plantings of sunflower,Heliantbus annuus L., were made 5 times between Feb. 2 and Nov. 15 in Florida so that the effect of planting date on the fatty acid composition of sunflower oil might be assessed. Eleven popular hybrids were planted at Gainesville, FL, on Feb. 2 and 28, April 2, and Aug. 14, and 15 hybrids were planted at Lake Worth, FL, on Nov. 15. Sunflower planted on Nov. 15 would be subjected to freezing temperatures if grown in Gainesville. Yields of sunflower achenes for the four planting dates at Gainesville declined with lateness of planting date. Oleic acid content of the oil (17.6–58.4%) was intermediate for the February plantings, highest for the April planting, and lowest for the late plantings. The linoleic acid content (32.5–71.0%) varied inversely with the oleic acid content. Because sunflower oil is needed for different purposes, such as for salad oil, for deep frying and for making margarines, oil low in linoleic acid (high in oleic acid) as well as oil high in linoleic acid (low in oleic acid) are needed. In Florida, adjusting the planting dates should result in the production of oil of the desired fatty acid composition.     

Effect of row space and irrigation on seed composition of Turkish sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

The effect of row space (RS) and irrigation (IR) on total protein, total oil, and fatty acid composition of Harran-grown sesame seed was studied. Total oil content of sesame varied from 46.4 to 51.5%. The oil and protein contents were significantly different among treatments (P<0.01) in 1998 and 1999. IR affected oil content significantly (P<0.01) in both years, and RS had no significant effect. The protein content was significantly influenced by RS and IR at P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively. RS 70 cm had the highest protein content followed by RS 60, 50, and 40 cm, respectively. IR every 24th day resulted in the highest level of protein, followed by 18th-, 12th-, and 6th-day irrigation, respectively. Correlation coefficients between protein and oil content were −0.34 in 1998 and −0.59 in 1999. RS (P<0.05) and IR (P<0.01) influenced oleic and linoleic acid contents significantly. Interactions of RS and IR were also found to be significant (P<0.05) over the oleic and linoleic acid levels.     

Variation in Fatty Acid Composition in Indian Germplasm of Sesame

A germplasm collection of 33 entries comprising 22 sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) cultivars, 4 landraces of S. mulayanum and 7 other accessions of 4 wild species were analyzed for the fatty acid compositions of their seed oil. The entries varied widely in their fatty acid compositions. The percentage content of oleic, linoleic, palmitic and erucic acids ranged between 36.7–52.4, 30.4–51.6, 9.1–14.8 and 0.0–8.0, respectively. Linolenic and arachidonic acids were the minor constituents but varied widely in wild species. Oleic and linoleic were the major fatty acids with mean values of 45.9 and 40.5%, respectively and the mean of their combined values was 86.4%. The polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) compositions ranged from 30.9 to 52.5% showing high variation in PUFA in the germplasm. Linoleic acid content was very high in one landrace (47.8) and one accession each of three wild species, S. mulayanum (49.3), S. malabaricum (48.2) and S. radiatum (51.6%). Use of fatty acid ratios to estimate the efficiency of biosynthetic pathways resulted in high oleic and low linoleic desaturation ratios and consequently high linoleic and very low linolenic acid contents in seed oil. The results of this study provided useful background information on the germplasm and also identified a few accessions having high linoleic acid which can be used for developing cultivars with desirable fatty acid compositions.     

Genetic Analysis of Oil Content and Fatty Acid Composition in Safflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carthamus tinctorius</Emphasis> L.)

The F₁ and F₂ progenies of eight-parent diallel crosses were used to investigate the mode of inheritance of fatty acids, oil, and protein in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds. The results indicated significant differences among the parents for general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA). Relatively high narrow-sense heritability was estimated for fatty acids including linoleic (0.84), oleic (0.77), palmitic (0.61), and stearic (0.6) acids. The high narrow-sense heritability and the high ratio of GCA/SCA mean squares for all the fatty acids investigated indicate the important role of additive gene action in controlling these traits. In our experiment, however, low narrow-sense heritability was obtained for oil (0.37) and protein (0.28) contents. Furthermore, the estimates of genetic variance components proposed the importance of non-additive genetic effects that contribute to variation in oil and protein content. The overall results indicated that K₂₁ × Mex.22-191 cross could be employed for the production of high oil yielding and high oleic acid safflower lines in breeding programs.     

Effect of fatty acid composition of oils on flavor and stability of fried foods

Effects of fatty acid composition of frying oils on intensities of fried-food flavor and off-flavors in potato chips and french-fried potatoes were determined. Commercially processed cottonseed oil (CSO) and high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSUN) were blended to produce oils with 12 to 55% linoleic acid and 16 to 78% oleic acid. Analytical sensory panels evaluated french-fried potatoes and pilot plant-processed potato chips. Initially, both foods prepared in CSO (16% oleic/55% linoleic acid) had the highest intensities of fried-food flavor; however, this positive flavor decreased with decreasing levels of linoleic acid. 2,4-Decadienal in potato chips also decreased with decreasing linoleic acid in the oils. Frying oil stability, measured by total polar compounds (TPC), and oxidative stability of potato chips, measured by volatile compounds, showed that HOSUN (78% oleic acid) produced the lowest levels of TPC and the lowest levels of hexanal and pentanal, indicating greater frying oil stability and oxidative stability of the food. However, fresh potato chips fried in HOSUN had the lowest intensities of fried-food flavor and lowest overall flavor quality. Fried-food flavor intensity was the best indicator of overall flavor quality in fresh potato chips. Volatile compounds, TPC, and oxidative stability index directly varied with increasing oleic acid, and were therefore not directly indicative of flavor quality. No oil analysis predicted flavor stability of aged potato chips. Compositions of 16 to 42% oleic acid and 37 to 55% linoleic acid produced fresh fried-food with moderate fried food flavor intensity, good overall flavor quality, and low to moderate TPC levels (chips only). However, in aged food or food fried in deteriorated oil, compositions of 42 to 63% oleic and 23 to 37% linoleic provided the best flavor stability.     

Genetic variation in Mexican Jatropha curcas L. estimated with seed oil fatty acids

The genetic diversity of Mesoamerican populations of the biofuel plant Jatropha curcas, using the fatty acids of the seeds as chemical markers was studied. The oil content of the whole seed in 135 accessions from 38 sites varied between 8.020% and 54.28%. The prevalent fatty acids were oleic acid (18:1) and linoleic acid (18:2), and the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids varied between 74.5% and 83.7%. A study with cloned plants grown in common garden showed that both the content of oil as well as the proportion of fatty acids are highly inheritable, therefore these chemical markers are valid for estimating the genetic diversity of the species. An analysis of principal components showed that the fatty acids that contribute more to the variance are stearic, oleic, linoleic, methylpalmitic, gadoleic and ricinoleic. The populations were classified in ten groups when the data were analyzed for fatty acids by analysis of clusters, showing the elevated genetic variation in natural populations of this native species of Mesoamerica. A discriminant analysis separated the populations in accordance with their geographic origin, which was verified with a Mantel test. Using the Monmonier's algorithm two genetic barriers between the populations were identified. The results are discussed in light of their microevolutionary significance.     

The Influence of Growing Region on Fatty Acids and Sterol Composition of Iranian Olive Oils by Unsupervised Clustering Methods

Twenty seven Iranian olive oil samples were collected from different provinces to evaluate fatty acids and sterol compositions. The samples were collected from different geographical locations that varied in altitude, temperature, humidity and rain fall. The sample collected from the northern part of Iran by the Caspian Sea had higher oleic acid [G₂ sample (75.98%)] and lower linoleic acid [Go₅ sample (6.5%)] and palmitic acid [G₂ sample (10.78%)] concentrations than samples from the southern part of the country such as F₁ whose contents of C16:0, C18:1 and C18:2 were 15.27, 62.73 and 16.09%, respectively, in the southern part, the climate is dry and the temperature variation is wider and the elevation is 1,488 m. The results indicated that oleic acid was the predominant fatty acid with 62.7% for F₁ sample in the warmer climate at the south of Iran to 76.0% for G₂ sample in the cooler climate in the north of Iran. According to the results, the highest content of β-sitosterol was 87% related to samples G₉ and Z₃ from the north of Iran and the lowest content was 69.95% related to sample F_1–24 from the south of Iran. Clustering techniques such as principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were carried out on olive composition data to show similarities and discrimination between samples as a function of the cultivation zone. The two methods applied clearly showed the effect of growing regions on the distribution of the olive oil samples in the high dimensional space created by fatty acid and sterol compositions.     

Chemische Untersuchungen an ozonisiertem Distelöl

Chemical Investigations of Ozonized Safflor Oil To continue the investigations of ozonized olive oil ozonized safflor oil was analysed with respect to some parameters which are important for medical application: peroxide value, malondialdehyd content, total fatty acids, fatty acids in the triglyceride fraction with and without peroxide groups in ozonized safflor oil. The high peroxide value and the increased amount of malondialdehyd with respect to ozonized olive oil was striking. Furthermore the high content of myristic acid in the oil or of linoleic acid in the triglyceride fraction, containing peroxide groups (content in safflor oil 36%) and lauric, myristic and oleic acid in the triglyceride fraction without peroxide groups.