Oil Content and Fatty Acid Composition of Some Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Varieties Sown in Spring and Winter

Abstract

Oil content and fatty acid composition were examined for Yenice (spineless), Dinçer (spineless) and Remzibey-05 (spiny) safflower varieties planted winter and spring seasons in 2004-2005. Oil content was affected by sowing time and variety. Oil content in three varieties ranged from 24.53 % to 28.47 % in winter sowing and from 21.23 % to 25.76 % in spring sowing. A significant sowing time x variety interaction for oil content was not observed. The sowing time x variety interaction was not significant for all fatty acids examined. Only the stearic acid among major fatty acids (palmitic, stearic oleic, and linoleic acids) and the linolenic acid were influenced (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively) by sowing time. The stearic acid content in varieties increased with the ratio of 0.18 % in winter sowing time. The linolenic acid was higher of 0.02 % in spring sowing. It was recorded that there was a negative correlation between the palmitic and the stearic acids in winter (r= -0.063) and spring (r= -0.806, P<0.01) sowings. Also, there was an inverse relationship (r= - 0.999, P<0.01) between the oleic and linoleic acids in both all varieties and two sowing times. The results of the study have been demonstrated the sowing time and variety may have an important effect on oil quality and content of safflower seed. Therefore, winter sowing time may be recommended in Ankara conditions.