Determination of fatty acid and tocopherol contents in F1 melez walnut population

Walnut is an important energy source and contains minerals, vitamins, nutriens and antioxidants that are important for human health. Its fruits are important source of monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid, etc.) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) etc.). Demand for production and consumption of this fruit species is increasing day by day after the walnut is known for its human health with numerous benefits and nowadays these features are scientifically explained. The consumption of walnut is increases with day by day due to its benefits for brain and heart health. Fatty acid and tocopherol contents of 156 genotype walnut fruits belonging to 'Chandler' x 'Kaplan-86' F1 hybrid walnut population were investigated in this thesis. Fatty acids were determined by using GC/FID (Gas Chromatograpy / Flame Lonizing Detector) and tocopherol isomers (alpha, beta, gamma) of HPLC hybrid (High Presure Liquid Chromatography) techniques. The contut of fatty acids of F1 individuals and thair parents were found to be myristic acid (0.00-3.34%), palmitic acid (5.86-10.05%), stearic acid (0.01-4.46%), palmitoleic acid (0.00-0.89%), oleic acid (11.58-20.89%), linoleic acid (45.36-66.02%), alpha-linolenic acid (1.78-20.55%). As for the tocopherol contut of this population by HPLC tecnique varied and ranged as alpha tocopherol (1.61-93.77 µg/g), beta tocopherol (1.09-90.07 µg/g), gamma tocopherol (90.22-394.96 µg/g).