Characterization and Evaluation of Salvia hispanica L. and Salvia columbariae Benth. Varieties for Their Cultivation in Southwestern Germany
2020
Samantha Jo Grimes | Filippo Capezzone | Peteh Mehdi Nkebiwe | Simone Graeff-Hönninger
Rising consumer attraction towards superfoods and the steadily increasing demand for healthy, environmentally sustainable, and regionally produced food products has sharpened the demand for chia. Over the course of 4 years, two early flowering chia varieties belonging to Salvia hispanica L., and Salvia columbariae Benth. Species were identified to complete their phenological development and, therefore, able to reach maturity under a photoperiod >:12 h, thus enabling the cultivation of chia in central Europe&mdash:more specifically, in southwestern Germany&mdash:consistently for the first time. Results obtained by the conducted field trial in 2018 showed that chia seed yields and thousand-seed mass ranged from 284.13 to 643.99 kg ha&minus:1 and 0.92 to 1.36 g, respectively. Further, the statistical analyses showed that the protein content of the cultivated chia varieties ranged from 22.14 to 27.78%, the mucilage content varied from 10.35 to 20.66%, and the crude oil content amounted up to 28.00 and 31.73%. Fatty acid profiles were similar to previously reported data with &alpha:-Linolenic acid being the most prominent one, ranging from 60.40 to 65.87%, and we obtained &omega:6:&omega:3 ratios between 0.2 and 0.3. In conclusion, chia could represent a promising raw material from a nutritional point of view, while being able to diversify the local food basis of southwestern Germany.
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