Identification of Crambe sp. naturally grown in the province Nigde and determination of quality features

Crambe, a member of the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) family, is grown as an annual or perennial oil herb. In this study, Crambe L. was collected from Niğde Flora and they were identified as Crambe orientalis var. orientalis and Crambe tataria var. tataria. These Crambe species were examined for morphological and chemical properties. The fatty acids contents of both seed and fruit of Crambe were also determined with GC. Morphologically, Crambe orientalis have higher values than Crambe tataria for plant length, branching, the first branch height and fruit height, the number of fruits and seeds, number of the empty fruit while Crambe tataria have higher values in terms of fruit and seed diameter, 1000 fruits and seeds weights, the content of fatty acids and the germination rate. The fruit and seed weight of both species were equal. Crambe orientalis and Crambe tataria seed oil contents were 29.77 % and 30.40 %, respectively. Also, erucic acid, main compound of the fatty acids, contents in both species were 35.95 % and 34.42 %, respectively. As a result of the study, it has been observed that Crambe tataria species has more oil potential than Crambe orientalis species while Crambe orientalis species was more morphological yield than Crambe tataria species. In order to increase yield, oil potential and the content of erucic acid, further studies are needed.