NEW CONTRIBUTION TO THE CHEMOMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION OF ALMOND CULTIVARS ON THE BASIS OF THEIR FATTY-ACID PROFILES

Eight minor fatty acids (C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, C15:0, C17:0, C17:1, C18 :3, and C20:0) have been determined in the kernel of 19 almond cultiva rs grown in the same field and year, using gas chromatography. Submiss ion of minor fatty acids along with the major ones (C16:0, C16:1, C18: 0, C18:1, and C18:2) to multivariate techniques (principal component a nalysis, cluster analysts, discriminant analysis) contributes to chara cterizing this set. In comparison to previous studies, the minor fatty acids enable further subdivision within the group of the Mediterranea n almonds. The American cultivar Titan, though classified near the cul tivars Wavona, Genco and Tuono, presents the fatty acid profile most s imilar to the Spanish cultivars. The Spanish cultivar Marcona, which i s classified with the Spanish Ramillete, Cebas, Desmayo Largueta, and Del Cid and the American Non Pareil, shows some particular features. D iscriminant analysis was applied to the four groups previously establi shed by cluster analysis.