CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF KENAF (HIBISCUS-CANNABINUS L) SEED OIL

Seeds from nine kenaf genotypes (Cubano, Everglades 41, Everglades 71, GR2563, Guatemala 48, Indian, 178-18RS-10, Tainung #1, and Tainung #2 ) were evaluated for oil, fatty acid, phospholipid, and sterol content . Oil content ranged from 21.4 to 26.4% with a mean of 23.7%. Total ph ospholipids ranged from 3.9 to 10.3% of the oil, with a mean of 6.0%. Mean sterol percent was 0.9 and ranged from 0.6% of the total oil for 178-18RS-10 accession to 1.2% for Everglades 71. Palmitic (20.1% of th e total fatty acids), oleic (29.2%), and linoleic (45.9%) were the maj or fatty acids, and palmitoleic (1.6%), linolenic (0.7%), and stearic (3.5%) were the minor components. Medium (C-12-C-14) and long (C-22-C- 24) chain fatty acids were less than 1%. Sphingomyelin (4.42% of the t otal phospholipids), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (12.8%), phosphatidyl c holine (21.9%), phosphatidyl serine (2.9%), phosphatidyl inositol (2.7 %), lysophosphatidyl choline (5.3%), phosphatidyl glycerol (8.9%), pho sphatidic acid (4.9%), and cardiolipin (3.6%) were identified in the n ine genotypes. Phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and ph osphatidyl glycerol were the dominant phospholipids. In addition, eigh t unidentified phospholipids were also found. beta-sitosterol (72.3% o f the total sterols), campsterol (9.9%), and stigmasterol (6.07%) were prevalent among kenaf genotypes. Kenaf's relatively high oil content and its similarity to cottonseed oil suggest that the seed oil may be used as a source of edible oil. The variation among genotypes indicate s potential for genetic improvement in oil yield and quality.