VARIETAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON RAPESEED: II. FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF THE OIL

Abstract

The content of C₁₆, C₁₈, C₂₀, C₂₂ fatty acids were measured by gas liquid phase chromatography and linoleic and linolenic acids by spectral analyses on the oil from seven varieties of rapeseed grown at seven stations in Western Canada. Significant differences were found between varieties for all oil properties except the content of C₁₆ acids. The major variation occurred in C₁₈, C₂₂ and linoleic acids with lesser amounts in the C₂₀ and linolenic acids. The varieties Golden, Argentine, Regina II and Swedish are classed as high, Gute and Arlo as intermediate, and Polish as low erucic acid oils.