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Performance of Vernonia as an Alternative Industrial Oil Crop in Limpopo Province of South Africa
Author(s) -
Shimelis Hussein,
Mashela Phatu W.,
Hugo Arno
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2007.06.0331
Subject(s) - germplasm , biology , linoleic acid , crop , stearic acid , palmitic acid , yield (engineering) , oleic acid , horticulture , agronomy , fatty acid , botany , chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , metallurgy , biochemistry
Vernonia ( Vernonia galamensis ) is an industrial oil seed crop with potential as a source of natural epoxy fatty acids. Diverse accessions of V. galamensis var. ethiopica were studied at the Limpopo Province in South Africa to determine agronomic performance and to identify suitable germplasm with quantity and quality seed oil content. Thirty‐six accessions were subjected to field evaluations using a partially balanced lattice design in 2005 and 2006. Significant differences were observed for days to flowering (88–143 d), plant height (131.6–167.85 cm), number of productive primary head (23–72 head plant −1 ), number of productive secondary head (12–35 head plant −1 ), thousand seed weight (1.68–3.63 g), and seed yield (1594.89– 3126.09 kg ha −1 ) between different accessions. Results from oil analysis show significant differences in the contents of seed oil (20.36–35.86%), vernolic acid (70.15–77.92%), linoleic acid (12.05–14.73%), oleic acid (3.72–5.52%), palmitic acid (2.49–3.24%), and stearic acid (1.73–3.28%). Of the five accessions identified as potentially useful, three (Vge‐17, Vge‐18, and Vge‐19) had better seed yield and agronomic performances and two (Vge‐4 and Vge‐31) increased contents of seed oil and vernolic acid. Accessions Vge‐4 and Vge‐18 also displayed relatively high oil yield, 966.58 and 801.28 kg ha −1 , respectively. The accessions will be used in the stra tegic improvement of vernonia to maximize seed yield and oil content as an alternative crop in the province and similar environments.