Influence of variety and weather conditions on fatty acid composition of winter and spring Camelina sativa varieties in Poland

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of weather conditions over the course of 4 years (2016–2019) on the fatty acid profile of Camelina sativa. It was assumed that varieties and functional forms of plants (spring and winter genotypes) were characterized by a different fatty acid composition and that weather conditions affected the profile of fatty acids in camelina seeds. Statistical analyses were performed based on the results of chemical tests. Differences were found in the mean concentrations of C18:3n3, C18:3n6, C20:2 and C22:1 acids in all genotypes based on the Kruskal test. Two winter genotypes (Maczuga and 15/2/3) and the spring genotype UP2017/02 had the significantly highest content of C18:3n6. Genotypes CSS-CAM31, CSS-CAM30, BRSCHW 28347, CSS-CAM36 and Kirgzkij showed the highest content of C18:3n3. The lowest C18:3n3 content was found in winter genotypes: K9/1, 15/2/3, Przybrodzka (winter form) and C5. It was found that weather conditions deviating from the long-term average, both in terms of temperature and precipitation, did not affect the quantitative profile of fatty acids. Over the 4 years, no differences were observed in the fatty acid profile between the spring and winter forms. Observations made in this study allow to state that spring and winter forms of Camelina sativa retain a constant fatty acid composition regardless of changing weather conditions.