India develops new groundnut line with desirable oil quality

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  • Groundnuts grown in India have about 55% oleic acid, about 25% linoleic acid and around 10% palmitic acid, whereas in the U.S., several groundnut varieties have 80% oleic acid and just 2-3% linoleic acid.

BACKGROUND:

  • Fatty acid composition defines groundnut oil quality. Six saturated fatty acids including palmitic acid constitute 10%, whereas oleic acid (monounsaturated fatty acid) together with linoleic acid (polyunsaturated fatty acid) constitutes nearly 80% of unsaturated fatty acid in groundnuts. It is highly desirable to increase the oleic acid content and reduce both linoleic acid and palmitic acid content.
  • Groundnuts grown in India have about 55% oleic acid, about 25% linoleic acid and around 10% palmitic acid, whereas in the U.S., several groundnut varieties have 80% oleic acid and just 2-3% linoleic acid.
  • Efforts have been taken to increase the oleic acid content and reduce both linoleic and palmitic acid content for health benefits and to increase the shelf-life.
  • In close collaboration with scientists from several institutions in India and Africa, the Hyderabad-based International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has developed improved groundnut lines for disease resistance and high oleic acid content. In 2016, the result of development of high (up to 82%) oleic acid content lines in three popular groundnut varieties.
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