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Improving the pattern of water consumption in the agricultural sector is one of the necessary measures to manage the water crisis in the country. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of drought stress on yield and physiological characteristics of safflower under different amounts of potassium fertilizer. The experiment was performed as a combined analysis in a randomized complete block design with three replications during 2018 and 2019. The main plot consisted of drought stress at three levels of 45%, 65%, and 85% of permissible moisture drain and the subplot consisted of potassium fertilizer at four levels of zero, 75, 150, and 225 kg of potassium sulfate per hectare. In the second year compared to the first year, the amount of proline and seed oil were significantly higher by 23.4% and 4.43%, respectively, and the amount of carbohydrates and chlorophyll a were significantly lower by 11.9% and 27.4%, respectively. With increasing potassium intake, the amount of chlorophyll a increased significantly, and the highest amount of chlorophyll a at the rate of 16.7 mg/L was obtained in the treatment of 225 kg of potassium per hectare. With increasing the intensity of stress from 45% to 85% of moisture drain in different levels of potassium fertilizer, seed yield decreased significantly. Treatment of 85% moisture drain in no application of potassium showed the highest amount of proline. The application of potassium is effective in modulating the negative effects of drought stress on seed yield, qualitative, and physiological characteristics of safflower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed oil and seed protein contents are commercially important components of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) that are inversely correlated. The objectives of this study were to identify novel quantitative trait loci (QTL) and validate existing QTL associated with seed oil, seed protein, and seed weight in soybean. Two mapping populations, Pop 201 and Pop 202, consisting of 180 and 170 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), respectively, were used in this study. The phenotypic data for each population were collected from four environments. The linkage maps of Pop 201 and Pop 202 consisted of 421 and 416 polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, respectively. Multiple QTL Mapping (MQM) analyses identified a total of 13 QTL for seed oil, 7 QTL for seed protein, and 6 for seed weight (SDWT). QTL for seed oil content not co-located with protein QTL were found on chromosomes 17 and 18 in multiple environments in Pop 201 and Pop 202, respectively. These QTL can be useful in reducing the inverse correlation between seed protein and seed oil contents. Most QTL found in this study are in previously reported genomic regions, and thus provide additional evidence for the stability of those QTL across genetic and environmental backgrounds. The findings of this study provide additional insight into the genetic control of these traits and potentially enable breeders to utilize the QTL-linked SNPs in marker-assisted selection (MAS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diospyros chloroxylon is the indigenous fruit of the Indian subcontinent and both unripe and ripe fruits are eaten by tribal people. The present study explores the nutritional status of Diospyros chloroxylon fruits. Unripe and ripe fruits were rich in fat, protein, carbohydrate, ash, fiber, and minerals. The energy levels of unripe, ripe fruits, and seeds were 93.78, 133.93, and 96.16 Kcal/100 g, respectively. Ripe fruits were also rich in phenolics (4.64 mg GAE/g DW) and flavonoids (1.62 mg QE/ g DW). Acetone, methanol, and water extracts of unripe, ripe fruits and seeds displayed potent free radical scavenging properties. The seeds of D.chloroxylon possess 3.16% oil and it contains oleic acid (39.91%) and palmitic acid (28.06%) as major fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodiesel is produced from Bauhinia racemosa. Bauhinia racemosa seeds which yield 25% seed oil. The component fatty acids present in the seed oils is estimated via GC-FID technique. The seed oil has IV of 72.6 g of I2/ 100 g of oil, SV of 202.0 mg of KOH/g oil, density of 0.898 g/cm3, and viscosity of 31.25 mm2/s. The synthesized biodiesel or liquid fuel is characterized by 1H NMR, IR, and TGA. It has the CN of 56.9, CFPP of 1.3°C, CP of 5.5°C, density of 0.856 g/cm3, HHV of 40.0 MJ/kg, FP of 144°C, KV of 3.2 mm2/s, and PP of – 1.49°C. The biodiesel properties are evaluated experimentally and computationally, and the results are compared with those of existing biodiesels and other reported biodiesels. Thus, investigated biodiesel is confirmed for its quality by comparison with ASTM, BIS, and EN standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridelia stipularis (L.) Blume is a fruit-yielding climbing shrub native to Southern Asia and various parts of the plant have been used in traditional systems of medicines to treat a range of diseases. Proximate, mineral, phytochemical analysis of Bridelia stipularis fruit pericap and seeds were carried out in the present study to assess nutritional and phytochemical status. The pericarp and seeds were rich in carbohydrate (38.78 and 33.46 g/100 g dry mass), protein (8.94 and 44.40 g/100 g dry mass), fiber (3.86 and 2.83 g/100 g dry mass) and minerals, in addition to these, seeds also contain oil (9.10 g/100 g dry mass). Pericarp and seeds possess higher concentrations of phenolics (9.84–125.59 mg GAE/g dry mass), flavonoids (7.17–44.67 mg QE/g dry mass), tannins (11.79–17.71 mg TAE g dry mass) and lesser concentrations of antinutritive factors, such as phytate (0.06–0.26 g/100 g dry mass) and oxalate (0.23–0.46 g/100 g dry mass). The physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid profile revealed that B. stipularis seed oil could be used for edible purposes. The seed oil is abundant with linolenic acid (36.7 g/100 g of oil), oleic acid (23.39 g/100 g oil) and hence, it could be used in soap and detergents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melon seed oil has been extracted by Soxhlet (hexane) and by supercritical CO2 operating to various pressures and temperatures. Linoleic acid (67.06-68.22%) was the most abundant followed by oleic acid (21.63-22.45%), palmitic acid (5.57-6.23%) and stearic acid (2.98-3.67%). The highest inhibition of inflammation was 18.8% at 50 µg/mL for hexane and SC-CO2 extracts obtained under 55 MPa and 70°C. The largest inhibition of IGROV and OVAR tumor cell lines were 29.9% and 21.6%, respectively, at 50 µg/mL for the ethanol extract. These results of biological activities indicate that melon seed oils can be dedicated to nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physicochemical characteristics and fatty acid composition of Lasiococca comberi Haines (Euphorbiaceae), an endangered forest tree species, were determined for the first time. The oil, protein, crude fibre and carbohydrate contents in seeds were 41.5, 13.8, 22.2 and 11.6%, respectively. The refractive index, pH, specific gravity, saponification value, iodine value, peroxide value and p-anisidine value of seed oil were 1.4781, 6.4, 0.9, 178.4 mg KOH/g, 196 g I2/100 g of oil, 5.1 mEq O2/kg and 188.4, respectively. The predominant fatty acids were linolenic acid (65.3%), oleic acid (13.8%), linoleic acid (7.1%) and palmitic acid (5.3%). HPLC analysis revealed the presence of α-tocopherol (13.2 mg/100 g) and γ-tocopherol (6.3 mg/100 g) as the major tocopherols. The results indicated that L. comberi seed oil can be classified as drying oil having possible applications in different industries and as an important dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extraction of oil fromDracocephalum kotschyiBoiss seeds using supercritical carbon dioxide was designed using central composite design to evaluate the effect of various operating parameters including pressure, temperature, particle size and extraction time on the oil yield. Maximum extraction yield predicted from response surface method was 71.53% under the process conditions with pressure of 220 bar, temperature of 35 °C, particle diameter of 0.61 mm and extraction time of 130 min. Furthermore, broken and intact cells model was utilised to consider mass transfer kinetics of extracted natural materials. The results revealed that the model had a good agreement with the experimental data. The oil samples obtained via supercritical and solvent extraction methods were analysed by gas chromatography. The most abundant acid was linolenic acid. The results analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the fatty acid contents of the oils obtained by the supercritical and solvent extraction techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

One of the effective managements of diabetes mellitus, in particular, noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, is to retard the absorption of glucose by inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes, such as α-glucosidase and α-amylase, in the digestive organs. Currently, there is renewed interest in plant-based medicines and functional foods modulating physiological effects in the inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Accordingly, inhibitors of α-glucosidase or α-amylase derived from various sources have also been isolated, and majority of phenolic compounds and their effects have been investigated in animals as well. As such, when the presence of α-glucosidase inhibitor in many foodstuffs was screened for, we found that vegetable seed oil also strongly inhibited α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Seed oil is an important source of liposoluble constituents with potential for inhibition of these enzymes, hence can also be used as therapeutic or functional food sources. Therefore, this review is aimed at highlighting the main liposoluble classes of α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitors, but it is not intended to be an exhaustive review on the subject. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The proximate composition of seeds, physicochemical characteristics, and fatty acid profiles of Ziziphus oenoplia seed oil were determined in this study. The seeds possessed low moisture (4.54%) and high carbohydrate (42.96%) and protein content (40%), making the seed oil suitable for storage and consumption. The saponification value (197.80) of the seed oil makes it a promising source for the soap and shampoo industry. The iodine and saponification values are comparable to those of major edible seed oils such as groundnut and soybean. The high amount of monounsaturated fatty acids (53.41%), especially oleic acid (53.38%), present in the oil makes it a better source for a low-fat diet and may reduce the risk of various heart-related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed oil was extracted using n-hexane as solvent in the Soxhlet extraction method where oil content varied from minimum (37.44%) in Hybrid-6 (first filial generation between parents P2and P3) to maximum (47.82%) in Hybrid-12 (first filial generation between parents P3and P6) among seed kernel of different hybrids. Density, specific gravity, and refractive index of oil showed very little but significant differences among the seed samples. Seed oil of parental genotype P5had the highest free fatty acid (FFA) content (5.50%) and the lowest (1.25%) was found in parent P4. Seed oil of Hybrid-11 had the highest FFA content (6.51%) and the lowest was in Hybrid-6 (1.11%). Seed oil of parent P2had the highest iodine value (111.50 mg/g oil) and the lowest was (99.10 mg/g oil) in P5. The lowest saponification value was obtained from seed oil of parent P4(184.19 mg KOH/g) and the Hybrid-11 (174.97 mg KOH/g oil). Maximum higher heating value (41.00 MJ/kg) was obtained from the seed oil of Hybrid-3 and Hybrid-14. The cetane number ranges from 49.59 to 52.30 among the oils of parental genotypes and 50.61 to 60.71 among hybrids. The result from the present study provides information on suitability of jatropha hybrid seed oil as feedstock for biodiesel production. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Nitrification inhibitory properties of plant substances offer potential benefits for agricultural applications. In this study, hexane-extracted seed oil, and 10, 20, and 30 mg/pot dry powder of seed exocarp and mesocarp from Acrocomia totai were applied in a quick nitrification bioassay for 24 or 50 hr, as well as for 4 weeks laboratory soil incubation, to investigate their effects on nitrification process. Results showed that applied oil concentrations significantly reduced nitrification rates. The extent of inhibition was increased with the oil concentrations from 5 to 25 µl in both experiments. The exocarp and mesocarp powders also inhibited nitrification, but it was not as high as oil-induced inhibition. Analysis of oil fatty acids showed that oil consisted of 71%, 26%, and 3% of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids, respectively. This suggests that fatty acids or some unknown ingredients in crude oil could be the responsible inhibiting compound. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ailanthus excelsaseed oil is identified as minor seed oil from forest origin for biodiesel production. The seed oil was initially characterized for various physico-chemical properties following standard protocols. The extracted oil was further refined and transesterified to produce biodiesel. The prepared biodiesel was evaluated for fuel properties such as the iodine value, free fatty acids, phosphorous content, flash point, cloud point, pour point, viscosity at 40°C, oxidative stability at 110°C, density, and trace metals. The properties were compared with international specifications and it was found that the oxidative stability of the prepared biodiesel was better compared to most of the biodiesels reported. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Humans and theCannabisplant share an intimate history spanning millennia. Humans spreadCannabisfrom its Eurasian homelands throughout much of the world, and, in concert with local climatic and human cultural parameters, created traditional landrace varieties (cultivars resulting from a combination of natural and farmer selection) with few apparent signs of domestication.Cannabisbreeders combined populations from widely divergent geographical regions and gene pools to develop economically valuable fiber, seed, and drug cultivars, and several approaches were used with varying results. The widespread use of single plant selections in cultivar breeding, inbreeding, and the adoption of asexual reproduction for commercial drug production, reduced genetic diversity and made many present-day cultivars susceptible to pathogens and pests. The great majority of drugCannabiscultivars are now completely domesticated, and thus are entirely dependent on humans for their survival. Future ramifications remain to be realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moringa oleiferaoil with comparable caprylic triglyceride to Lexol® 865 and higher oleic acid was prepared into microemulsions. A system comprising natural and synthetic oils (Omix), surfactant (Tween 80 and Span 80; Smix), and water was microemulsion prepared by a visual grading. Twelve microemulsions with diameter of 83.75–286.76 nm, pH of 6.75–8.23, and viscosity of 280.00–517.20 mPa•s were produced. Their antioxidant were 0.926–2.921 μg Trolox/mg. Microemulsions with Omix:Smixmass ratio of 2:8 and 5:5 that had Omixof 2:1 and 1:1 were stable following a 4 months stability evaluation at 25°C and 45ºC. Microemulsions containing moringa oil produced by a practical low-energy method exhibited good viscosity with an acceptable pH and antioxidant activity were therefore applicable for further applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Albizia julibrissinseed oil was extracted by the continuous method of soxhlet. We were interested to some physicochemical parameters of the oil. The main results showed that the saponification number was of 190; the iodine value was of 111 whereas the acid value was equal to 2.54. Concerning oil composition, the main fatty acids (FA) were linoleic (57.7 %), palmitic (12.5 %) and oleic ones (9.8 %). The major triacylglycerols (TAGs) were represented by ECN 42 accounting for 56.2 % of TAGs. Concerning ECN 44, it was represented by OLL. Furthermore, PLL accounted for 39 %. It is worth mentioning thatA. julibrissinoil was rich in β-carotene and that it was characterized by a low quantity of chlorophylls according to its UV spectrum in the region 400-800 nm. Concerning the UV spectra in the region 200-400nm, our profile revealed an important absorbency in the domain UV-C and low absorbencies in the domains UV-B and UV-A. These findings showed thatA. julibrissinseed oil could be valorised in many sectors such as cosmetic, pharmaceutical and agro industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oils extracted from Cucurbitaceae seeds were characterised for their fatty acid and tocopherol compositions. In addition, some physicochemical characteristics, total phenolic contents and the radical-scavenging activities were determined. Oil content amounted to 23.9% and 27.1% in melon and watermelon seeds, respectively. Physicochemical characteristics were similar to those of other edible oils and the oils showed significant antioxidant activities. Fatty acid composition showed total unsaturated fatty acid content of 85.2–83.5%, with linoleic acid being the dominant fatty acid (62.4–72.5%), followed by oleic acid (10.8–22.7%) and palmitic acid (9.2–9.8%). The oils, especially watermelon seed oil, showed high total tocopherol and phenolic contents. The γ-tocopherol was the predominant tocopherol in both oils representing 90.9 and 95.6% of the total tocopherols in melon and watermelon seed oils, respectively. The potential utilisation of melon and watermelon seed oils as a raw material for food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries appears to be favourable. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Fruit seeds are usually thrown out as waste during processing or after human consumption. Over the years, researchers have dedicated their effort to assess the food and nutritional values of many different fruit seeds. In this review, the research findings releated to the food values of ten different fruit seeds namely, guava, pumpkin, papaya, honeydew, mangosteen, rambutan, watermelon, mango, and durian were discussed. For several fruit seeds, the macro nutrient components such as oil, protein, and carbohydrate of are found to vary due to either varietal defferences or geographical variations. Among the seeds discussed, the range of oil content was from 1.8 to 49.0% while the range of protein content was from 6 to 40.0%. While the high oil bearing fruit seeds are potential new sources of oil, those with high protein content can be used for recovery of protein. As some of fruit seeds are edible and found to possess a host of phytonutrients, they can be harnessed for medicinal purposes. This review concludes that utilization of fruit seeds could not only bring health and wealth but also help to minimize the waste disposal problem of agro-based industries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Tecoma stansLinn. is known to have various medicinal and therapeutic properties. However, to our knowledge, no information is available regarding their seed oils. In this study, the fatty acid (FA) compositions, physico-chemical properties and antioxidant capacities ofT. stansseed oils (TSOs) were investigated. The oil content of the seeds was 15%. The FAs of the TSOs were analysed by GC–MS. α-Linolenic (45.47%), oleic (23.56%), linoleic (11.48%), palmitic (6.09%) and stearic (4.12%) acids were the major detected FAs. γ-Linolenic acid and stearidonic acid, unusually FAs, were also present (1.04% and 6.65%, respectively). The total tocol content in the TSOs was found to be 266.06 mg/100 g. The main component was γ-tocopherol (78.93%). The total phenolic content (168.69 mg GAE/100 g oil) and total flavonoid content (5.54 mg CE/g oil) were also determined in the TSOs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Three different Myrtaceae species and one species of Annonaceae were analyzed for the fatty acid composition of their seed oil. All species were characterized by high concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids that ranged from 54.61 to 91.65 g/100 g of the total fatty acid content. The main fatty acid presented by Feijoa sellowiana was linoleic acid (84.44 g/100 g). Oleic acid was the main fatty acid found in the seed oil from Myrcianthes pungens and Rollinia sylvatica, whose contents were 57.03 and 54.41 g/100 g, respectively. For Eugenia uniflora oil seed, the main fatty acid detected was palmitic acid (40.07 g/100 g). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of drought and Phomopsis on seed composition constituents in Phomopsis susceptible (S), moderately resistant (MR), and resistant (R) soybean genotypes grown under irrigated and non-irrigated environments. Genotypes of maturity group (MG) III and V were grown under field conditions in 2003 and 2005. Seed protein, oil, fatty acids, sugars, and minerals were evaluated in seeds harvested at harvest maturity (R8) and 15 days after harvest maturity (delayed harvesting). The results showed that seed protein and oleic acid were higher in S than in MR or R genotypes at 15 days after harvest maturity in MG III in non-irrigated soybean. For MG V genotypes, seed protein, oil, and oleic acid were higher and linoleic and linolenic acids were lower in MR and R than in S in irrigated and non-irrigated soybean at harvest maturity and 15 days after harvest maturity. In MG III genotypes, seed sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose were higher in MR and R than in S genotypes in irrigated soybean at maturity only. In irrigated or non-irrigated soybean, seed sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose were higher in R than in MR or in S in MG V in 2003 and 2005 at harvest maturity or 15 days after harvest maturity. Seed minerals were also altered in MG III and V. This research demonstrated that seed composition components were altered by drought and Phomopsis and the degree of alteration depended on the level of resistance of the genotype and MG. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The fatty acid composition of the seed oils of six pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars was qualitatively and quantitatively determined by gas chromatography. The seeds contained oil in the range of 51-152 mg kg-dry matter. Inter-cultivar differences in fatty acid composition were demonstrated [fatty acid esters as % (w/w) total fatty acid esters]. Sour cultivars had the highest oil content, while sour-sweet cultivars had the lowest oil content. Eleven fatty acids were identified. In all cultivars the predominant fatty acids were linoleic (25.2-38.6%) and oleic acid (24.8-35.5%) followed by palmitic (18.2-22.6%), stearic (6.9-10.4%), and linolenic acid (0.6-9.9%). To a lesser extent, arachidic (1.1-3.4%) and palmitoleic acid (0.2-2.7%) were also found in all cultivars. Lauric, myristic, behenic, and lignoceric acids were rarely detected. As far as we know, linolenic (18:3), arachidic (20:0), behenic (22:0), or lignoceric (24:0) acids have not been previously reported in the seed oils of edible pomegranate cultivars. Lignoceric acid has not previously been found in pomegranate seed oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, oil content and fatty acid composition of apple and pear seeds were analyzed. Apple (cv. red Fuji) seeds and pear (cv. Dangshan Suli) seeds contained a large quantity of oils (apple seed oil, 291 g/kg seed; pear seed oil, 179 g/kg seed). Eleven types of fatty acids were identified in apple and pear seed oil; c16:0, c16:1, c18:0, c18:1, c18:2, c18:3, c20:0, c20:1, c20:2, c22:0, and c24:0. The dominant fatty acids in apple seed oil were c18:1 (43.03 g/100g oil), c18:0 (26.47 g/100g oil), and c16:0 (5.60 g/100g oil). The same three fatty acids were also dominant in pear oil (c18:1, 56.80 g/100g oil; c18:0, 20.28 g/100g oil; and c16:0, 6.39 g/100g oil). Compared with previous research, an additional six fatty acids were found in apple seed oil (c16:1, c18:3, c20:1, c20:2, c22:0, and c24:0). Unsaturated fatty acids comprised 70.598 g/100g oil of apple seed oil and 77.846 g/100g oil of pear seed oil. In conclusion, apple seeds and pear seeds contain a large quantity of oil comprised of many fatty acids, especially unsaturated fatty acids. These data suggest that apple and pear seeds could be new sources of edible oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sample of Blighia sapida seeds collected in Benin has been analysed and the results are compared to the scarcely available literature data. The chemical analysis of seed oil shows a saponification value of 145 and an iodine value of 66, consistent with the high mono-unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) content (63.8 wt%). The most interesting feature is the prominent concentration of eicosenoic acid (48.4 wt%). Arachidic acid being the main component within the saturated group, the C20 FAs fraction accounts for 68.4 wt%, thus making the peculiar composition of this oil. Among the unsaponifiable fraction (2.4 wt%), the major sterol is stigmasterol (54.6 wt%), surprisingly over passing β-sitosterol. Tocols (338 ppm) contains mainly α- and γ-tocopherol. Regarding the defatted cake, results show the prominent position of starch and a noticeable amount of proteins and fibers (44.2, 22.4, 15.6 wt%, respectively). Seventeen amino acids were identified together with valuable minerals (total ashes 3.5 wt%). Possible uses of oil and defatted cake are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical and chemical properties of seeds and seed oil from 'Tainung No. 1' passion fruit in China have been analyzed in order to evaluate their nutritional value. Proximate analysis shows that the seeds have a high amount of protein (10.8±0.60%) and are rich in oil (23.40±2.50%). The seeds are found to be a good source of minerals. They contain considerable amounts of sodium (2.980±0.002 mg/g), magnesium (1.540±0.001 mg/g), potassium (0.850±0.001 mg/g), and calcium (0.540±0.002 mg/g). The passion fruit seeds contain the 17 amino acids that are found naturally in plant protein (tryptophan is not analyzed). The essential amino acids account for 34% of the 17 amino acids. The amino acid score of passion fruit seeds protein is 74 and the first limiting amino acid is methionine and cystine. The oil extracted by solvent and supercritical dioxide carbon is liquid at room temperature and the color is golden-orange. The specific gravity of the oil is about 0.917. Comparing the chemical properties of the oil extracted by solvent with that by supercritical dioxide carbon, the latter may be suitable as edible oil directly, while the former will be edible after it must be refined to improve on clarity. Fatty acid composition of the seed oil indicates that the oil contains two essential fatty acids (linoleic acid and linolenic acid), but the content of linoleic acid (72.69±0.32%) is by far greater than that of linolenic acid (0.26±0.00%). The present analytical results show the passion fruit seed to be a potentially valuable non-conventional source for high-quality oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authenticity of products labeled as olive oils, and in particular as virgin olive oils, stands for a very important issue both in terms of its health and commercial aspects. In view of the continuously increasing interest in virgin olive oil therapeutic properties, the traditional methods of characterization and physical and sensory analysis were further enriched with more advanced and sophisticated methods such as HPLC-MS, HPLC-GC/C/IRMS, RPLC-GC, DEPT, and CSIA among others. The results of both traditional and "novel" methods were treated both by means of classical multivariate analysis (cluster, principal component, correspondence, canonical, and discriminant) and artificial intelligence methods showing that nowadays the adulteration of virgin olive oil with seed oil is detectable at very low percentages, sometimes even at less than 1%. Furthermore, the detection of geographical origin of olive oil is equally feasible and much more accurate in countries like Italy and Spain where databases of physical/chemical properties exist. However, this geographical origin classification can also be accomplished in the absence of such databases provided that an adequate number of oil samples are used and the parameters studied have "discriminating power." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two field experiments (2000–2001 and 2001–2002) were conducted at two nearby fields in the Qanavat region of Qom province, central Iran, to investigate the effects of zinc (Zn) fertilization on production of sunflower. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with six treatments in three replicates. Treatments were: Zn 0 (non-Zn fertilized), Zn 10 , Zn 20 , Zn 30 , and Zn 60 (soil application of 10, 20, 30, and 60 kg Zn ha -1 , respectively), and Zn Spray (foliar spraying of 0.5 kg Zn ha -1 using ZnSO 4 ). Seeds of sunflower ( Helianthus annuus cv. ‘Record’) were planted on June 20, 2000 and June 15, 2001. At harvest, shoot and seed yields as well as concentration of Zn, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl) in leaves of sunflower were determined. Addition of 20 kg Zn ha -1 significantly increased seed production and shoot dry-matter yield of sunflower, while other Zn treatments had no significant effect on shoot dry-matter yield, or decreased it. The thousand-seed weight was the yield component most affected by Zn fertilization, while plant height and head diameter did not change. The maximum content of seed oil was achieved under the Zn 10 treatment, then decreased at higher rates of soil-applied Zn such that oil content of seed under the Zn 30 and Zn 60 , treatments was significantly lower than that of the control. Seed oil content was unaffected by foliar spraying of Zn. The concentration of Zn in sunflower leaves was increased with an increase in soil-added Zn of from 0 to 60 kg Zn ha -1 . The highest leaf concentrations of Zn (162 and 175 mg kg -1 day matter (DM) in the first and second year, respectively) were achieved by foliar application of ZnSO 4 . Leaf concentration of Fe was significantly increased in the Zn 20 treatment compared with the control but decreased at the higher rates of soil-added ZnSO 4 . Soil addition of different levels of ZnSO 4 decreased concentration of Na and Cl in leaves. The lowest concentration of Na and Cl in leaves was observed under Zn 20 . The results of this study suggest that soil application of a suitable amount of Zn has a positive effect on both quantitative and qualitative yield of sunflower in saline, calcareous soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To observe the effects of deficiency and excess of copper (Cu) on rapeseed (Brassica napus L. cv 'T44'), plants were raised in refined sand at variable levels of Cu (as copper sulfate): 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 10, 100, and 200 μM, representing a range from acute deficiency to excess. In rapeseed, excess Cu (200 μM) induced chlorosis on young leaves similar to iron (Fe) deficiency symptoms and appeared earlier (day 30) than symtoms of Cu deficiency (day 40). Foliar symptoms of Cu deficiency (0.01 μM) were initiated on young leaves as interveinal chlorosis, later leading to necrosis. The margins of the affected leaves curled inward and leaves hung down due to loss of turgor. The deficiency (<1 μM Cu) and excess (100 and 200 μM Cu) of Cu lowered the biomass, pod, and seed yield, concentration of chlorophylls (a and b), Hill reaction activity, activity of catalase and polyphenol oxidase, and increased the activity of ribonuclease and acid phosphatase in leaves. The activity of peroxidase decreased and the concentration of copper in leaves (young and old) and seeds increased with an increase in Cu from low to excess. The accumulation of Cu was greater in old than in young leaves. The seed quality of rapeseed was poor both in deficiency (<1 μM) and excess (>1 μM) of Cu, which was reflected in reduction in size and number of pods and seeds, oil content, concentration of protein, carbohydrate fractions (sugars and starch), protein nitrogen (N), and methionine, and increased concentration of phenols and non-protein N in seeds. The values of Cu deficiency, threshold of deficiency, threshold of toxicity, and toxicity were, respectively, 3.8, 6.6, 32, and 54 μg Cu g-1 dry matter in young leaves and 2.2, 5.8, 20, and 28 μg Cu g-1 dry weight in seeds of rapeseed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) was studied in the seed oil of six Cape Verdian Boraginaceae. The GLA ranges from trace levels in the three Heliotropum surveyed to 22.2% on saponifiable oil in Echium stenosiphon . All Echium species had GLA percentages in their seed oil around 20%. Echium seeds yield saponifiable oil from 15.8% ( E. stenosiphon ) to 17.3% ( E. hypertropicum ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medicinal properties of seed oil of Pongamia glabra are well known in traditional Indian medicine. It has antimicrobial activity against several organisms. It is used in the treatment of herpes and scabies and, systemically, it is also used in the treatment of dyspepsia with sluggish liver. The present study demonstrates that in vitro, Pongamia oil has strong spermicidal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]