ARS | Publication request: Selected castorbean genotypes evaluated for morphological traits, seed yield, fatty acids, and oil content

Submitted to: Proceedings of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: October 24, 2008
Publication Date: May 4, 2009
Citation: Morris, J.B., Wang, M.L. 2009. Selected castorbean genotypes evaluated for morphological traits, seed yield, fatty acids, and oil content. Proceedings of the American Oil Chemists' Society. May 2009.

Technical Abstract: Castorbean, Ricinus communis, contains oil used in pharmaceutics, cosmetics, soap, shampoo, and as a lubricant. Castorbean is rapidly becoming a biodiesel crop because of its high oil content which ranges between 30 and 60% depending upon extraction proceedures. Two hundred and three castorbean accessions are conserved at the USDA, ARS, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit, Griffin, GA. The objectives of this study are to determine castorbean plant types which can be easily and mechanically harvested, seed numbers and weight, fatty acid analysis and oil content from 4 selected castorbean genotypes. Morphological data including plant archintecture will be recorded from field grown plants and mature seeds will be harvested. Gas chromatography (GC) will be used to analyze fatty acid composition while oil content will be determined using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) from these castorbean seeds. Uniform plants per genotype and plants reaching appropriate heights and widths for harvestability within each genotype have been identified. High seed numbers have been observed from several of these castorbean genotypes. Morphological data, seed yield, fatty acid analysis, and oil content will be determined after all castorbean plants have completed their growth cycles. High oil producing castorbean genotypes will be produced and will offer breeders and geneticists valuable germplasm for cultivar development.