BioMatNet Item: AIR2-CT93-1817 - Vegetable Oils with Specific Fatty Acids (VOSFA) Agricultural and Industrial Development of Novel Oilseed Crops

AIR2-CT93-1817
Vegetable Oils with Specific Fatty Acids (VOSFA) Agricultural and Industrial Development of Novel Oilseed Crops - MAFF Final Summary Report

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AIR Cluster IV - Oils and Fats : Agriculture : Bulk Chemicals : Fine Chemicals : Paints/Coatings/Plastics : Plant Genetics : Process Engineering : Separation/Fractionation : Vegetable Oil/Fat

	Contract No	AIR2-CT93-1817
	Total Cost	2 572 349
	EC Contribution	1 286 174
	Start Date	01/01/1994
	Duration	48 months

Vegetable Oils with Specific Fatty Acids (VOSFA)

MAFF - UK Summary Report

Executive summary

The production potential of the species Calendula officinalis, Dimorphotheca pluvialis, Euphorbia lagascae, Lesquerella grandiflora and Lunaria annua were evaluated over the period 1994 - 7 at sites in southern England using the widest range of genotypes available. These species were selected following discussions with the VOSFA project's industrial partners. The five species produce unique fatty acids with specific industrial applications. The target fatty acids for the five species were calendic (coatings), dimorphecolic (lubricants, coatings, plasticisers, foam plastics), vernolic (lubricants, coatings, plasticisers), lesquerolic (plasticisers, lubricants, cosmetics, coatings) and nervonic (lubricants, hydraulic oils). In addition specific aspects of the agronomy of the individual species were investigated.

Calendula officinalis produced an average yield of 1.4 t/ha and a maximum yield of 2.8 t/ha. Seed oil content averaged 16.6 % with a calendic acid content of 45.4 %. There was significant variability between accession in maturity, yield and seed oil content. The accessions hens and chickens, double lemon coronet and CPRO-DLO 879144 and 880557 produced the highest yields of oil and calendic acid. Reliable establishment was achieved and a plant density of 40-60 plants/m² was optimum. Isoxaben plus pendimethalin, trifluralin, pendimethalin (1000 g a.i./ha) and chlorthal-dimethyl were effective and crop safe herbicide options. Indeterminate flowering, enhanced by above average summer rainfall, was identified as a harvesting problem. Desiccating the crop with diquat, at around the 70 % brown seed stage and direct combining was an effective harvesting technique but seed losses could be high. Wind volume and straw-bed sieve size were important combine settings to minimise seed losses but crop factors need further investigation.

Establishment and growth of Dimorphotheca pluvialis was variable, seed production averaged 478 kg/ha, seed oil and dimorphecolic acid were relatively stable over seasons averaging 20.5 % and 54.0 %. Differences between accessions were small. Indeterminate flowering and seed shatter were identified as characteristics limiting commercialisation. Establishment of Euphorbia lagascae was satisfactory and subsequent growth vigorous. The dehiscent characteristic of all genotypes tested made seed yield estimation difficult, the average of 1.1 t/ha probably underestimated potential. Seed oil content was consistently high, averaging 47.8, resulted in an average oil yield of 526 kg/ha, with a vernolic acid content of 56.6 %. Modest weed competition reduced crop production by over 37 %, trifluralin, chlorpropham and linuron were crop safe and effective weed control options. Lesquerella grandiflora only produced a modest plant stand in one year out of three, growth was poor and maximum yield was 440 kg/ha at an oil content of 22 %.

Establishrnent of biennial Lunaria annua was difficult under the dry conditions of early summer but seed yield averaged 1.8 t/ha with a maximum yield of 2.9 t/ha. The oil content of the seed was 32.4 % of which 51.8 % was erucic and 26.2 % nervonic acid. There were significant differences between accessions in seed yield and resistance to Albugo candida, a significant disease of the crop. Kings Crown Purple produced consistent seed and oil yields but lacked disease resistance. A spring plant density of 20 plants/m² was sufficient to produce maximum yield. May sowing produced a 0.6 t/ha yield advantage over a July sowing date. The species was relatively tolerant of weed competition, giving only a 17 % response to total weed control. It was not possible to develop a consistently effective weed control strategy because dry conditions adversely affected the activity of residual herbicides.

It was concluded that with current knowledge and genotypes Calendula officinalis was the species nearest to commercialisation. Higher yielding and shatter resistant genotypes of Dimorphotheca pluvialis and a nondehiscent type of Euphorbia lagascae are necessary to enable commercialisation. Lesquerella grandiflora does not appear to be suited to the soils and climatic conditions of south western England. The long growing season and establishment risks limit the commercialisation of current genotypes of Lunaria annua, the development of shorter growing season genotypes could covert the species to commercially viability.

See further information for the UK Scientific Report

The Project Final Summary Report is also available in this database.

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