LIPIDS IN CRUCIFERAE-D PART 6 THE FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION OF SEEDS OF SOME CULTIVATED BRASSICA-D SPECIES AND OF SINAPIS-ALBA-D

Abstract

A large number of seed samples from Brassica campestris, B. carinata, B. juncea, B. napus, B. nigra, B. oleracea and Sinapis alba have been analysed for fatty acid composition by gas chromatography. Differences in fatty acid patterns among different samples of European winter rape seed (Brassica napus) were generally of a small magnitude, regardless of cultivar used or environmental conditions. Among summer rape cultivars studied, the Polish „Bronowski” was distinguished by its low erucic acid content, about 10%, provided that samples of genetic stocks were analysed. The highest linoleic acid content observed in any of the species investigated was 26% and the lowest linolenic acid figure was about 7%. The intra- and inter-specific variation observed is discussed in relation to the development of cultivars with improved fatty acid patterns and in relation to the taxonomy of these species.