Oil content and fatty acid profile of selected poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) landraces and modern cultivars

The oil content and fatty acid composition were determined in the seed of 19 poppy genotypes (both landraces and modern cultivars) grown in three-year field trials. The total oil content ranged from 34.56-44.76%. The oil content in white-seeded genotypes (40.73-44.76%) exceeded the oil content in blue-seeded genotypes (34.5640.34%) and ocher-seeded genotypes (38.36-42.69%). Linoleic acid (71.41-74.02%), oleic acid (12.35-15.51%) and palmitic acid (8.95-10.29%) were the most abundant fatty acids in the evaluated seeds of poppy genotypes. A significant negative correlation (-0.7574**) was found between linoleic and oleic fatty acids. The sum of polyunsaturated (PUFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and saturated (SFA) fatty acids ranged from 72.43-74.91%, 12.90-16.14% and 10.99-12.46% of the total fatty acids, respectively. Both the total oil content and the content of individual fatty acids were mainly affected by the crop year (weather conditions); however, the effect of genotype and year x genotype interaction was also significant. Due to the favourable composition of fatty acids, the evaluated poppy genotypes can be a good source of nutritionally valuable oil.

Automated summary

The oil content and fatty acid composition of 19 poppy genotypes were studied, showing that the white-seeded genotypes had higher oil content and the main fatty acids were linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid. The fatty acid composition of the seeds was mainly influenced by the crop year, with significant effects of genotype and genotype-year interaction.