IDENTIFICATION OF OILSEED TURNIP (BRASSICA-RAPA L VAR OLEIFERA) CULTIVAR GROUPS BY THEIR FATTY-ACID AND GLUCOSINOLATE PROFILES

Seeds of oilseed turnip (Brassica rapa L var oleifera) were collected from several different geographic regions extending from the People's Republic of China through India and Europe to Canada. Fatty acid and g lucosinolate profiles were generated for each of the 60 entries. A wid e variation was found between entries. The fatty acid profiles could b e grouped in three main categories: low (< 10 %), high (> 40 %) or int ermediate (20-25 %) erucic acid content. The corresponding oleic acid contents were high, low or intermediate, respectively. Nine glucosinol ates were found. The most abundant were gluconapin, glucobrassicanapin and progoitrin. Sinigrin and glucoiberin were not detected and these two components are suggested as possibly specific for the B oleracea g roup. The 60 entries could be classified into four groups using the un standardised fatty acid and glucosinolate data, but we were not succes sful in cultivar identification using the same data. The fatty acid an d glucosinolate profiles are too similar to allow any reliable discrim ination among cultivars.