Simmondsin and wax ester levels in 100 high-yielding jojoba clones

This 3-year study examines differences in simmondsin and wax ester producti on by 100 previously identified high-yielding jojoba clones. Over the past 3 years the USDA, ARS, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Researc h (NCAUR) analyzed seed samples from Purcell Jojoba International's (PJI) l arge 17-year-old Variety Trial program. These 100 clones were the top produ cers out of 1523 clones that bad been mass-selected from more than 1.5 mill ion, open-pollinated, female plants. Broad selection criteria were applied to retain a healthy degree of the natural plants' heterogeneity and hybrid vigor. In this study, one female clone produced 82% higher simmondsin level s than the mean of the 100 clones analyzed. Another clone produced 16% high er liquid wax ester levels than industry average. A few clones had high lev els of both, simmondsins and esters. In addition, the differences in fatty acid and fatty alcohol among the clones were also studied. These analyses h elp provide a strong foundation for major growth of the jojoba industry. (C ) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.