Agronomic characterization of some Crambe abyssinica genotypes in a locality of the Po Valley

The use of oil with a high level of erucic acid in some industrial sectors appears to offer excellent prospects from a technological and environmental point of view. This study was carried out to determine the potential of Cr ambe abyssinica for producing high erucic acid oil seeds in the Po Valley e nvironment (North Italy). The productive yield of 3-year trials using six d ifferent genotypes was generally satisfactory, even though significant diff erences were found between the years. The different weather patterns record ed during the trials showed how emergence, flowering and seed-filling stage s are particularly important phases for obtaining good yields. The grain pr oduction in these years ranged between 2.3 and 3.2 t ha(-1) and were simila r to that of other spring oilseed crops in our environment. The seed had an oil concentration of between 320 and 370 g kg(-1), with a fatty acid compo sition regularly characterized by a level of erucic acid higher than 53%. T his paper also reports and discusses some other seed characteristics (prote in content, weight per hectolitre, thousand kernel weight, hull/seed ratio and number of seed per plant). Amongst the genotypes tested, Mario gave the highest seed and oil yields followed by Belann and C-29, whereas Mejer and Belenzian gave lower yields, especially as a result of an insufficient eme rgence. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.