Tocopherols in Flaxseed

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 1997-06, Vol.45 (6), p.2076-2080
• Main Authors: Oomah, B. Dave, Kenaschuk, Edward O, Mazza, Giuseppe
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; CULTIVARS; Fat industries; Food industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics and breeding of economic plants; GRAINE; GRAINE DE LIN; ISOMERS; LINAZA; LINSEED; LINUM USITATISSIMUM; SEASONAL VARIATION; SEEDS; SEMILLA; TOCOFEROLES; TOCOPHEROL; TOCOPHEROLS; VARIACION ESTACIONAL; VARIATION SAISONNIERE; VARIEDADES; Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims; VARIETE; VARIETIES; Yield, quality, earliness, varia
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf960735g

The tocopherol content of oil from eight flaxseed cultivars grown at four locations in western Canada for 3 years was determined to examine genotypic and environmental effects. Flaxseed contained an average of 9.3 mg/100 g of total tocopherol in the seed, with γ-tocopherol representing 96−98% of the total tocopherols. The level of tocopherol in flaxseed was cultivar specific and regulated by environmental conditions as indicated by the strong cultivar × location × year interaction. Seasonal differences in total tocopherol content were significant, although the contribution of the δ isomer was constant at 2.5% of the total tocopherol. In flaxseed, tocopherol content was weakly but positively associated with oil content. The ratio of the tocopherol isomers α, γ, and δ in flaxseed hull at 17:61:22 was different from that in the seed. Keywords: Flaxseed; tocopherol; tocopherol isomers; cultivar effects; seasonal variations; environment; flaxseed hull; oil; Linum usitatissimum