Tocopherol Contents of Almond Genetic Resources from Eastern and Western Turkey

Abstract

This study was conducted in almond genetic resources selected from Eastern and Western Turkey. 71 (Prunus dulcis (Miller) D.A. Webb) genotypes were selected from Balikesir (Western Turkey) and Tunceli (Eastern Turkey) districts in 2012. Alpha (alpha)-tocopherol, gamma (gamma)-tocopherol, delta (delta)-tocopherol and alpha (alpha)-tocotrienols and total vitamin E content were investigated in the selected almond genotypes. 38 almond genotypes from Balikesir province had alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, gamma tocopherol, alpha-tocotrienols and total vitamin E content to be from non detectable to 1164.36mg kg(-1) oil, non detectable to 130.03mg kg(-1) oil, non detectable to 81.38mg kg(-1) oil, non detectable to 1252.24mg kg(-1) oil, respectively. 33 almond genotypes from Tunceli district showed alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, alpha-tocotrienols and total vitamin E content to be between non-detectable and 1085.92mg kg(-1) oil, non detectable and 21.12mg kg(-1) oil, non detectable and 91.26mg kg(-1) oil, 0.86 and 1191.81mg kg(-1) oil, respectively. Delta tocopherol content was not detectable in almond genotypes selected from Balikesir and Tunceli provinces. BKS-3, BKS-16 and TUN-15 genotypes showed higher tocopherol content in comparison to the other genotypes tested. We can say that these genotypes could be a useful source for the future breeding projects in developing almond cultivars with high tocopherol content.