SPECIES TRIALS WITH OILSEED PLANTS: II. CAMELINA

Abstract

Camelina, a member of the mustard family, exceeded flax and rape in yield of seed per acre at Ottawa, Ontario, and at Fort Vermilion, Alberta. The oil content of the 10 varieties in the test ranged from 34.3 to 38.7 per cent at Ottawa and from 37.1 to 42.0 per cent at Fort Vermilion. The average fatty acid composition in percentage of methyl esters was: palmitate 5.0; stearate 2.1; behenic 1.7; palmitoleic, trace; oleic 14.8; linoleic 16.4; linolenic 36.1; eicosenoic 17.5; eicosadienoic 2.3; erucic 3.7. The seed contained 33.1 per cent protein, 9.6 per cent crude fiber, only a trace of isothiocyanate, and no thiooxazolidone.Camelina matured 3 to 4 weeks earlier than flax. This is a valuable characteristic for northern areas as it would prevent damage by early fall frost and would permit extending the northern limits of the oilseed-producing area.