POTENTIAL INDUSTRIAL-PLANTS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SPECIAL FATTY-ACIDS

The status of research activities in caper spurge (Euphorbia lathyris) as well as preliminary evaluation and cultivation experiments in the three umbelliferae species coriander (Coriandrum sativum), fennel (Foe niculum vulgare) and Heracleum mantegazzianum are shown. It is demonst rated, that a group of potential oilproducing wild plant species exist s beside the established crop species. These species are characterized by a high oil quality or the occurance of an unusual, specific fatty acid like the petroselinic acid of the seed oil in the family of umbel liferae and may become of importance as a specific educt for the chemi cal industry in the future. But it must be kept in mind, that the esta blishment of productive and competitive varieties of these potential o ilproducing wild plant species is a long term assessment. The presente d results give an impression about this aspect.