Agronomic potential and seed composition of cuphea, an annual crop for lauric and capric seed oils

Abstract

Cuphea is an herbaceous summer annual plant native to Mexico. The seed oil contains various medium-chain fatty acids which, depending on the species, account for 40 to more than 80% of the total fatty acids. Cuphea oil could be a substitute for conconut- and palm kernel oil because of the high lauric acid content, but also could serve as a natural source of capric acid, which presently comes mainly from petrochemicals.

Agronomic research recently begun at Oregon State University is directed toward adaptation and yield improvement of Cuphea. Initial Oregon field experiments in 1983 indicated that Cuphea is well adapted to the Willamette Valley. The plant, however, is not yet adapted to current farm production technology. Slow emergence and seedling growth may be altered by breeding and selection. Seed indehiscence and indeterminate growth already have been altered through mutations.

In recent experiments seed yield could be increased significantly by multiple harvests, which indicates that further gain could be expected through improved technology. Present yield potential of Cuphea is about 300 kg of oil per hectare.