RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 35 (3) September 2023, p. 504-516

BUNCH OIL AND FATTY ACID PROFILE IN Elaeis oleifera TAISHA-ECUADOR, Elaeis guineensis Jacq., INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS AND BACKCROSSES

LAURA MENDOZA1*; JULIAN BARBA1 and GUSTAVO LIGARRETO2

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2022.0057
Received: 18 July 2021   Accepted: 2 August 2022   Published Online: 13 September 2022
ABSTRACT

In this study, bunch oil content and fatty acid profile in the Elaeis oleifera species from Taisha, Morona- Santiago, Ecuador, its interspecific hybrid descendants and backcrosses were determined in contrast to Elaeis guineensis. Results showed that E. oleifera from Taisha presented an average of 10.74% oil in bunch, being lower than those presented by hybrids of 25.80%, backcrosses of 25.98%, and E. guineensis of 29.49%. The most abundant fatty acids in the mesocarp corresponded to C16:0, C18:1n9, and C18:2n6, where E. oleifera from Taisha, although it had a lower content of palmitic acid (27.82%) compared to the rest of the genotypes. This did not present statistical differences for C18:1n9 because of the same behaviour as an E. guineensis, and therefore did not classify as a high oleic material. However, for C18:2n6, which is in the group of unsaturated fatty acids, it presented higher values than any of the other materials, indicating that its oil synthesis converts C18:1 to C18:2 more easily than other E. oleifera of different places in America. The average iodine value was 76.93%, compared to hybrids with 67.14%, backcrosses with 60.20%, and E. guineensis with 55.65%.

KEYWORDS:


1 Research and Development Unit,
Palmar del Río, San Sebastián del Coca, Ecuador.

2 Faculty of Agricultural Sciences,
Department of Agronomy,
Universidad Nacional de Colombia,
Road 30 No. 45-03 Building No. 500,
Sede Bogotá, Colombia.

* Corresponding author e-mail: ljmendozac@unal.edu.co