COMPOSITION, VARIATION OF NUTRITIONAL CONTENTS IN LEAVES, SEED PROTEIN, FAT AND FATTY-ACID PROFILE OF CHENOPODIUM SPECIES

The foliage of Chenopodium belonging to 10 species were analysed for s elected nutritional and antinutritional components. The overall range of moisture was 757-910 g kg-1, carotenoid 78-190 mg kg-1, vitamin C 0 .5-2.4 g kg-1, protein 26-64 g kg-1, nitrate 2.6-5.0 g kg-1 and oxalat e 9-39 g kg-1 (fresh wt). Variation of all the six parameters with res pect to leaf position from the apex showed the highest amount of carot enoid at 7-8, vitamin C at 9-1 0, protein at 5-6 and nitrate in the yo ungest leaves, followed by a continuous decrease with age (increasing position). However, oxalate contents always tended to increase with le af position (age). The protein, fat and fatty acid composition in seed s of eight species were also analysed. Protein varied from 106 to 142 g kg-1 and fat from 30 to 62 g kg-1; palmitic, oleic and linoleic were the major fatty acids in the oils.