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Oil, Fatty Acid Profile and Karanjin Content in Developing Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre Seeds

  • Original Paper
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Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society

Abstract

Oil content, fatty acid composition and karanjin content were studied in developing pongamia seeds, at intervals of 3 weeks from 30 weeks after flowering up to 42 weeks. Three marked stages in seed development were observed at the early green pod stage, the middle half brown stage and the late dark brown stage. Significant variation in seed biomass, pod and seed characteristics were observed. A significant (P < 0.01) decrease in the moisture content of the seeds was observed during seed development. The oil content gradually increased from 32.06 to 36.53 % as the seed matured. A significant variation in fatty acid composition was detected across all stages of seed development. Palmitic acid (16:0) content marginally decreased from 11.81 to 10.18 %, while stearic acid (18:0) and linolenic acid (18:3) remained constant at all stages of seed maturity. A steady increase in oleic acid (18:1) content from 38.11 to 49.11 % was observed, while the linoleic acid (18:2) content decreased from 30.14 to 18.85 %. The iodine value increased, while the saponification number of oil decreased during seed development. The increase in karanjin content was steady. Seeds harvested after 42 week after flowering yielded the maximum oil with high oleic acid content which could be suitable for biodiesel production.

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Abbreviations

WAF:

Weeks after flowering

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl esters

DMRT:

Duncan multiple range test

MC:

Moisture content

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support and facilities received from the Department of Agriculture, the Karnataka State Biofuel Development Board, the Government of Karnataka and the University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru and the Department of Applied Botany, School of Biosciences, Kuvempu University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biofuel Park, Department of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru, 560065, Karnataka, India

    H. R. Pavithra, Balakrishna Gowda, K. Rajesh Kumar & K. T. Prasanna

  2. Department of Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Jnana Sahyadri, Shimoga, 577451, Karnataka, India

    H. R. Pavithra & M. B. Shivanna

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  1. H. R. Pavithra
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  2. Balakrishna Gowda
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  3. K. Rajesh Kumar
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  4. K. T. Prasanna
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  5. M. B. Shivanna
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Correspondence to Balakrishna Gowda.

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Pavithra, H.R., Gowda, B., Rajesh Kumar, K. et al. Oil, Fatty Acid Profile and Karanjin Content in Developing Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre Seeds. J Am Oil Chem Soc 89, 2237–2244 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-012-2126-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-012-2126-7

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