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Performance of Vernonia as an Alternative Industrial Oil Crop in Limpopo Province of South Africa

^a Dep. of Plant Production, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Limpopo, Private Bag X1106, Sovenga 0727, South Africa
^b Dep. of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, Univ. of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa

^* Corresponding author (shimelis{at}ul.ac.za).

Vernonia (Vernonia galamensis) is an industrial oil seed crop with potential as a source of natural epoxy fatty acids. Diverse accessions of V. galamensis var. ethiopica were studied at the Limpopo Province in South Africa to determine agronomic performance and to identify suitable germplasm with quantity and quality seed oil content. Thirty-six accessions were subjected to field evaluations using a partially balanced lattice design in 2005 and 2006. Significant differences were observed for days to flowering (88–143 d), plant height (131.6–167.85 cm), number of productive primary head (23–72 head plant^–1), number of productive secondary head (12–35 head plant^–1), thousand seed weight (1.68–3.63 g), and seed yield (1594.89– 3126.09 kg ha^–1) between different accessions. Results from oil analysis show significant differences in the contents of seed oil (20.36–35.86%), vernolic acid (70.15–77.92%), linoleic acid (12.05–14.73%), oleic acid (3.72–5.52%), palmitic acid (2.49–3.24%), and stearic acid (1.73–3.28%). Of the five accessions identified as potentially useful, three (Vge-17, Vge-18, and Vge-19) had better seed yield and agronomic performances and two (Vge-4 and Vge-31) increased contents of seed oil and vernolic acid. Accessions Vge-4 and Vge-18 also displayed relatively high oil yield, 966.58 and 801.28 kg ha^–1, respectively. The accessions will be used in the stra tegic improvement of vernonia to maximize seed yield and oil content as an alternative crop in the province and similar environments.

Abbreviations: DTF, days to flowering • FAME, fatty acid methyl ester • LA, linoleic acid • OA, oleic acid • PA, palmitic acid • PHT, plant height • PPH, productive primary head • PSH, productive secondary head • SA, stearic acid • SYD, seed yield • TSW, thousand seed weight • VA, vernolic acid

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Received for publication June 12, 2007.