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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #86734
Title: LIPASE ACTIVITY IN VERNONIA GALAMENSIS BREEDING LINES

Author
item SIEBERG, MAUREEN - UNIV OF ARIZONA
item STUMPF, DAVID - UNIV OF ARIZONA
item RAY, DENNIS - UNIV OF ARIZONA
item Dierig, David

Submitted to: Association for the Advancement of Industrial Crops Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The epoxy oil produced by Vernonia galamensis is of interest to industry for paints and metal coatings. This oil contains an unusually high percentage of free fatty acids (FFA) which are likely generated when oil is subjected to seed lipase activity. Oil quality is diminished by the presence of these FFA for both chemical characteristics and the capacity for storage. A method has been developed to quantify FFA in vernonia oil. Using solid phase extraction (SPE) columns, FFA are separated from the oil fraction. FFA are quantified using gas chromatography (GC). The remaining oil fraction is used to assess oil quality (i.e., percentage trivernolin) also by GC. Repeated analysis has demonstrated that this method is reliable, efficient and repeatable. Our data shows that these lipase enzymes act both before and after the seed flaking process necessary for oil extraction. Preliminary measurements also indicate adequate variability of this trait both between and within our breeding lines for use in our breeding program.