Analyzing seed weight, fatty acid composition, oil, and protein contents in Vernonia galamensis germplasm by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Vernonia galamensis is a potential new industrial oilseed crop from the Asteraceae family. The interest in this species is due to the presence of a high vernolic acid content of its seed oil, which is useful in the oleochemical industry for paints and coatings. The development of a rapid, precise, robust, nondestructive, and economical method to evaluate quality components is of major interest to growers, processors, and breeders. NIR reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) is routinely used for the prediction of quality traits in many crops. This study was conducted to establish a rapid analytical method for determining the quality of intact seeds of V. galamensis. A total of 114 Vernonia accessions were scanned to determine seed weight, FA composition, oil, and protein contents using NIRS. Conventional chemical analysis for FA composition, total oil, and protein contents were performed by GC, Soxhlet extraction, and the Dumas combustion method, respectively. Calibration equations were developed and tested through cross-validation. The coefficient of determination in cross-validation for FA ranged from 0.47 (linoleic acid) to 0.55 (vernolic acid), and for oil, protein, and seed weight from 0.71 (oil) to 0.86 (seed protein). It was concluded that NIRS calibration equations developed for seed weight and seed quality traits can be satisfactorily used as early screening methods in V. galamensis breeding programs.