Anwar A. Hamama

Chemical composition of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) seed oil

Abstract Seeds from nine kenaf genotypes (Cubano, Everglades 41, Everglades 71, GR2563, Guatemala 48, Indian, 178-18RS-10, Tainung #1, and Tainung #2) were evaluated for oil, fatty acid, phospholipid, and sterol content. Oil content ranged from 21.4 to 26.4% with a mean of 23.7%. Total phospholipids ranged from 3.9 to 10.3% of the oil, with a mean of 6.0%. Mean sterol percent was 0.9 and ranged from 0.6% of the total oil for 178-18RS-10 accession to 1.2% for Everglades 71. Palmitic (20.1% of the total fatty acids), oleic (29.2%), and linoleic (45.9%) were the major fatty acids, and palmitoleic (1.6%), linolenic (0.7%), and stearic (3.5%) were the minor components. Medium (C 12 C 14 ) and long (C 22 C 24 ) chain fatty acids were less than 1%. Sphingomyelin (4.42% of the total phospholipids), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (12.8%), phosphatidyl choline (21.9%), phosphatidyl serine (2.9%), phosphatidyl inositol (2.7%), lysophosphatidyl choline (5.3%), phosphatidyl glycerol (8.9%), phosphatidic acid (4.9%), and cardiolipin (3.6%) were identified in the nine genotypes. Phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and phosphatidyl glycerol were the dominant phospholipids. In addition, eight unidentified phospholipids were also found, β-sitosterol (72.3% of the total sterols), campsterol (9.9%), and stigmasterol (6.07%) were prevalent among kenaf genotypes. Kenafs relatively high oil content and its similarity to cottonseed oil suggest that the seed oil may be used as a source of edible oil. The variation among genotypes indicates potential for genetic improvement in oil yield and quality.

Genotypic and environmental effects on lupin seed composition

Currently, white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is gaining importance due to its high nitrogen fixation capability and potential in sustainable crop production systems. Even though research conducted in Australia, Chile, Germany, New Zealand, and Portugal has indicated lupins positive potential as human and animal food, such information from Virginia and adjoining areas of the United States is not available. In addition, effects of growing environment and genotypes on lupin seed composition need to be characterized to evaluate lupins potential as a food and feed crop. Towards this end, seed of 12 lupin genotypes produced in Maine (USA) and Virginia (USA) were compared to determine genotypic and environmental effects on contents of protein, sugar, oil, various fatty acids, amino acids, and minerals. The protein content of dry seed was not affected by growing environment. However, growing environment had significant effects on contents of total sugar, amino acids, oil, fatty acids, and minerals. Significant variation existed among 12 lupin genotypes for various traits when composition of seed produced in Virginia was evaluated. The results indicated that site-specific evaluation of adapted lupin genotypes for chemical composition should be included in efforts to evaluate lupins overall potential as a food or feed crop.

Oil, erucic acid, and glucosinolate contents in winter hardy rapeseed germplasms.

Abstract The US industry uses ≈18 million kg of high erucic acid oil annually, mostly from imports. Therefore, a large overall market potential exists for development of annually renewable domestic sources of erucic acid. The present research was conducted to characterize the winter hardy rapeseed germplasm for oil, erucic acid, and glucosinolate contents for use in breeding programs to develop commercial production of rapeseed. Significant variation existed among the 455 accessions of Brassica napus L. and the 44 accessions of Brassica rapa L. for oil, erucic acid, and glucosinolate contents. B. napus had significantly higher mean oil content in the seeds (37.4%) than the Brassica rapa (36.6%). The glucosinolate content was higher in napus than the rapa meal (49.2 vs. 43.8 μmol/g). The erucic acid content was higher in rapa (32.6%) than the napus accessions (26.1%). Within species, the correlation between oil and glucosinolate contents was significantly negative among the napus accessions (−0.14), but was significantly positive among rapa accessions (+0.39). The results indicate that plant material from either napus or rapa species could be used in breeding for increasing erucic acid content. Accessions with high, medium, and low contents of oil, erucic acid, and glucosinolate contents were identified.

Accumulation of glucosinolate, oil, and erucic acid in developing Brassica seeds

Abstract The glucosinolate-free meal from rapeseed can be used as livestock feed, whereas glucosinolate-rich meal can be used as a pesticide. It has also been shown that glucosinolate content in Brassica (rapeseed) seeds can be manipulated by application of chemicals. However, the stage of seed development when potential chemical treatments could be applied has not been clearly identified. Thus, an experiment was conducted to evaluate accumulation of glucosinolate, oil, and erucic acid in developing seeds of rapeseed lines. These included lines that were classified as low or high for glucosinolate content. The florets of eight rapeseed lines were tagged at the 50% flowering stage and were sequentially harvested at 26, 28, 30, 33, 35, 37, 40, 42, 44, 47, 49, and 52 days after flowering (DAF). The oil content in both the high and low-glucosinolate lines increased approximately by a factor of four from 26 to 52 DAF. The oil content accumulation was not affected by glucosinolate content. Erucic acid content in the oil was significantly higher in low glucosinolate lines compared with high glucosinolate lines on 28 and 40 DAF. Developing seeds were most amenable to change in erucic acid content at approximately 37 DAF. The glucosinolate contents in high glucosinolate lines started to increase significantly at 26 DAF and continued up to 33 DAF. However, the glucosinolate content in the low glucosinolate lines increased only from 33 to 35 DAF. This indicates that the greatest accumulation of glucosinolate in developing rapeseed seeds may occur at approximately 26 DAF.

Vernonia oilseed production in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States

Abstract Epoxidized oils, manufactured by chemical epoxidation of fats and vegetable oils such as soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.], are useful in reformulation of oil based (alkyd-resin) paints to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds that contribute to production of smog. Other potential markets for epoxy fatty acids include plasticizers, additives to polyvinyl chloride, polymer blends and coatings, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications. Currently, no oilseed crop has been commercialized as a source of natural epoxidized oils. However, Vernonia galamensis (Cass.) Less. has been identified to have potential for domestication as a new industrial oilseed source of natural epoxy fatty acids. The main objective of this research was to evaluate feasibility of vernonia production in mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Specifically, we wanted to evaluate available vernonia germplasm for seed yield, oil content, and oil quality, and to determine suitable production practices. The seed yield (kg/ha) in field experiments conducted from 1994, 1995, and 1996 at Randolph Farm of Virginia State University (37°15′N and 77°30.8′W), with a selected group of vernonia lines, ranged from 490 to 1288, 494 to 1394, and 1070 to 1934, respectively. Oil content ranged from 30.2 to 36.7% and 32.1 to 39.2%, respectively for 1995 and 1996 and the vernolic acid content ranged from 68.9 to 74.7% and 69.1 to 75.6%. A significant positive correlation ( r =0.34) between oil content and vernolic acid content indicated that both these characteristics could be improved simultaneously. The highest seed yield was obtained with 100 kg N/ha. A pre-plant-incorporated application of Trifluralin herbicide at 0.5 kg/ha a.i. did not reduce vernonia stand establishment. Seedhead shattering was observed to be a limitation in the evaluated vernonia germplasm. These results indicate that commercial vernonia production in Virginia and other areas in the mid-Atlantic region of United States may be feasible.

Effect of Cultivar and Planting Time on Resistant Starch Accumulation in Pigeonpea Grown in Virginia

Recent recognition of indigestible starch component named as “Resistant Starch” in the human small intestine raised our interest to execute the current study to identify the best cultivar to produce high-quality pigeonpea seed to incorporate in ongoing pigeonpea breeding program. Though pigeonpea was identified as one of the food legumes with high RS, there were no published reports for pigeonpea resistant starch accumulation as influenced by planting time. The experiment was conducted twice in replicated block design with four varieties and two planting times. The resistant and non resistant (hydrolysable) starch components of ground seed powder of four pigeonpea varieties were analyzed to identify the best planting time and best cultivar for high-resistance starch accumulation. Planting time and varieties showed significant influence on resistant starch (RS), total starch (TS), and hydrolysable starch (HS) accumulation. The pigeonpea variety W1 was significantly superior from other three varieties and has highest RS value (21.4 g/100 g) with 70 per cent RS out of its total starch (28 g/100 g). The planting time 2 (June 11) produced seed with highest values for RS (18.7 g/100 g), HS (6.5 g/100 g), and TS (25.2 g/100 g). The cultivar W1 is the better one followed by GA1 for use in further crop improvement.

Cultivar and Growing Location Effects on Fatty Acids, Minerals, and Sugars in Green Seeds of White Lupin (Lupinus albus L.)

Evaluation of green immature seeds from ten cultivars of white lupin (Lupinus albus L., Fabaceae), grown in two locations in Virginia (USA) during two years, indicated that physiological mature but green white lupin seeds con- tained 33 percent protein and 7 oil on dry weight basis. Contents of C18:3, saturated, unsaturated, mono-unsaturated, and poly-unsaturated fatty acids in white lupin green seeds were 10, 18, 84, 40, and 42 percent of total oil, respectively. White lupin green seeds contained 0.39, 1.34, 0.20, 0.37, 0.21, and 0.03 percent, dry weight basis, of P, K, S, Ca, Mg, and Na, respectively. White lupin green seeds contained 56, 8, 224, 8, 56, and 22 mg/kg Fe, Al, Mn, Cu, Zn, and B, respectively. Contents of fructose, glucose, sucrose, raffinose, stachyose, verbascose, and total sugars in green white lupin seeds were 0.25, 0.42, 2.71, 1.17, 6.01, 1.32, and 11.98 g/100 g meal, respectively. Growing locations significantly affected composi- tion of green white lupin seeds whereas effects of cultivars were limited. White lupin green seeds compared well with green peas and vegetable soybean seeds. Results indicated that white lupin green seeds may have potential as human food.

Cultivar and Growing Location Effects on Fatty Acids and Minerals in White Lupin Sprouts

Composition of white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) sprouts was significantly affected by growing location whereas cultivar effects were not significant. In general, sprouts made from seed produced at Petersburg, a location with cooler climate and heavier soils, were superior to those produced from seed produced at Suffolk, a location with warmer climate and sandier soils. White lupin sprouts, on average, contained 41 percent protein and 8 percent oil. Contents of fatty acids, expressed as percentage of oil, were 10, 2, 1, 4, 1, 1, 43, 20, 10, 5, 2, 18, 82, 51, and 31, respectively, for C16:0, C18:0, C20:0, C22:0, C24:0, C16:1, C18:1, C18:2, C18:3, C20:1, and C22:1, total saturated, total unsaturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The ratio between linoleic (C18:2) and linolenic (C18:3) fatty acids in white lupin sprouts was 0.5. White lupin sprouts, on average, contained 0.4, 0.8, 0.3, 0.3, 0.2, and 0.04 percent P, K, S, Ca, Mg, and Na, respectively. White lupin sprouts, on average, contained 51, 15, 139, 10, 51, and 14 mg·kg−1 Fe, Al, Mn, Cu, Zn, and B, respectively. Based on this study, it was concluded that white lupin sprouts are a potential human food.

Evaluation of the U.S. Mothbean Collection for Seed Yield Potential in Virginia and Nutritional Composition of Freshly Harvested Seed

Even though mothbean (Vigna aconitifolia), a droughtand heattolerant crop,may have potential in the easternUnited States, information about its production in this region is not available. To characterize potential seed yields and preliminary nutritional quality, 54 accessions were grown near Petersburg, VA, during 2011, 2012, and 2013. The seed yields varied from 48 to 413 lb/acre. The mean concentrations of protein, calcium, iron, and zinc in mature mothbean seed were 21.9%, 0.17%, 64.8 ppm, and 37.5 ppm, respectively. These values compared well with those inmungbean (Vigna radiata) and tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius). The results demonstrated that mothbean has considerable potential as an alternative, new food legume crop in Virginia and eastern United States.