Fatty acid composition of the oil from developing seeds of different varieties of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Fatty acid composition and moisture and oil content were determined for Montola-2001 and Centennial safflower varieties at three different harvest dates from flowering to maturity, which were grown as autumn and spring crops in two different locations in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. The experiment was carried out using split-split plots in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Sowing dates affected oil content and fatty acid compositions significantly (P < 0.01), whereas moisture content in both years was not significantly affected. Moisture content declined 15 days from flowering period to maturity, while oil content increased. The rate of the palmitic acid formation decreased in both varieties 15 days from flowering period to maturity, whereas formation rates of the oleic and linoleic acids increased in Montola-2001 and Centennial varieties, respectively.