Influence of Origin on Seed Oil Content and Composition of Fatty Acids in Poppy Seeds (Papaver somniferum L.)

In the years 2015-2017, trials were carried out with the poppy seed landraces on the demonstration and experimental fields of the CULS in Prague, Czech Republic. The plots were not fertilized with nitrogen. The aim of the experiment was to find out what differences in oil content are present (through analysis using the Soxhlet method) and to understand the composition of fatty acids found within poppy seeds; depending upon the year/season, seed color and variety. Fatty acid compositions were examined using the Gas Chromatography, through this the results showed that Oleic acid contents (12.3-15.26%) were lower than values usually reported in literature (16.1-19.4%), in contrast the content of linoleic acid (72.2-75.3%) was deemed and found to be greater than the 58.8% of results reported in literature. In addition, the measured values of the remaining samples do not fit in the generally accepted limit; other measured fatty acids showed displaced values in favor of unsaturated fatty acids. Through the reduction of nitrogen fertilization, it appears that this controlled input is to be responsible for the fatty acid pool of poppy seed being affected.