INVESTIGATIONS IN CULTIVATION ABILITIES AND SEED QUALITY OF OENOTHERA-BIENNIS L

Abstract

Due to relatively high concentration of γ-linolenic acid seed oil of evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.) is requested for cosmetian and clinical applications. Variation of oil content and concentration of γ-linolenic acid in the seeds of 50 single wild plants and their selected progenies from different locations were determined. In a phytotron experiment the influence of temperature and nitrogen fertilization on oil content and fatty acid composition were examined. Contrary to other oil plants in evening primrose no influence of different temperature on desaturation degree of the fatty acids – especially on γ-linolenic acid concentration was detectable.