Fatty acid composition affected by kernel weight in almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb.] genetic resources

Twenty-six almond [Prunus dulcis (Miller) D.A. Webb.] genotypes were selected from Elazig province located on eastern Anatolia region of Turkey in 1999 and 2001. Their fatty acid compositions were determined in relation to kernel weight and shell thickness. They had a range of 0.50–1.34 g in kernel weight, 1.96–4.66 mm in shell thickness, 16.07–31.46% in protein content and 25.19–60.77% in oil content. In addition, their kernels contained 5.46–15.78% palmitic acid, 0.36–2.52 palmitoleic acid, 0.80–3.83% stearic acid, 50.41–81.20% oleic acid and 6.21–37.13% linoleic acid. Linolenic acid in two genotypes and myristic acid in six genotypes were detected. In genotypes classified according to their kernel weights, relationships among fatty acid contents, fat content, kernel weight and shell thickness were also studied using correlation coefficients and regression analyses. Findings revealed that contents of palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid were significantly influenced by kernel weight. Contents of palmitic acid and stearic acid were negatively correlated with shell thickness, and oleic acid content was positively correlated with shell thickness.