Variability of linolenic and linoleic acids in soybean oil

Summary Soybean oil from all locations and varieties of Uniform Test Groups II, III, and IV have been analyzed for linolenic and linoleic acid by an improved spectrophotometric method. Location composites in Group II varied from 5.9% to 8.3% in linolenic acid and from 45.3% to 50.4% in linoleic. Variety composites varied from 5.4% to 8.0% in linolenic and from 43.9% to 51.6% in linoleic. The location variability was shown to be closely associated with maximum temperature during seed development. Temperature appears to be the most important environmental factor affecting these acids, especially linolenic. The percentages of the two acids are positively correlated with each other. Publication No. 291 of the U. S. Regional Soybean Laboratory, Urbana, Ill.