Yield and Physicochemical Properties of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) Seed Oils among Nine International Provenances Tested in Malawi

Sclerocarya birrea (Marula) is an indigenous fruit tree that is revered for its numerous socioeconomic contributions to human livelihood. Among others, the species is an important source of seed oil that is utilized in various domestic and industrial applications. This study was carried out to asses...

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Main Authors: Mussa Kamanula, Chimuleke Yangontha Munthali, John Finias Kamanula
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:International Journal of Agronomy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7145113
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author Mussa Kamanula
Chimuleke Yangontha Munthali
John Finias Kamanula
author_facet Mussa Kamanula
Chimuleke Yangontha Munthali
John Finias Kamanula
author_sort Mussa Kamanula
collection DOAJ
description Sclerocarya birrea (Marula) is an indigenous fruit tree that is revered for its numerous socioeconomic contributions to human livelihood. Among others, the species is an important source of seed oil that is utilized in various domestic and industrial applications. This study was carried out to assess the yield and physicochemical properties of seed oils among nine international provenances of Sclerocarya birrea (subspecies caffra and birrea) planted in Malawi. Seed oils were obtained using the Soxhlet extraction method while quality parameters were determined using procedures described by the Malawi Bureau of Standards. Oil yield was highest (52.2%) in subspecies birrea (Missira provenance; Mali). Oil moisture content, free fatty acids, acid value, and peroxide value ranged from 0.06 to 076%, 1.96 to 4.07%, 3.91 to 8.13 mg·KOH/g, and 1.84 to 5.15 meq·KOH/g, respectively. Variations in oil yield and physicochemical properties could be attributed to genetic differences and the origin of genotypes. The selection of Sclerocarya birrea for oil production and use should be based on both provenance and subspecies levels. Further studies should study the heritability of the oil content and its physicochemical properties before conclusive decisions on the use of seed for propagation are carried out.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1687-8167
language English
publishDate 2022-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series International Journal of Agronomy
spelling doaj-art-0ff87ce056c64dadb6fcb0c25b1d47ab2025-08-20T03:54:29ZengWileyInternational Journal of Agronomy1687-81672022-01-01202210.1155/2022/7145113Yield and Physicochemical Properties of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) Seed Oils among Nine International Provenances Tested in MalawiMussa Kamanula0Chimuleke Yangontha Munthali1John Finias Kamanula2Mzuzu UniversityMzuzu UniversityMzuzu UniversitySclerocarya birrea (Marula) is an indigenous fruit tree that is revered for its numerous socioeconomic contributions to human livelihood. Among others, the species is an important source of seed oil that is utilized in various domestic and industrial applications. This study was carried out to assess the yield and physicochemical properties of seed oils among nine international provenances of Sclerocarya birrea (subspecies caffra and birrea) planted in Malawi. Seed oils were obtained using the Soxhlet extraction method while quality parameters were determined using procedures described by the Malawi Bureau of Standards. Oil yield was highest (52.2%) in subspecies birrea (Missira provenance; Mali). Oil moisture content, free fatty acids, acid value, and peroxide value ranged from 0.06 to 076%, 1.96 to 4.07%, 3.91 to 8.13 mg·KOH/g, and 1.84 to 5.15 meq·KOH/g, respectively. Variations in oil yield and physicochemical properties could be attributed to genetic differences and the origin of genotypes. The selection of Sclerocarya birrea for oil production and use should be based on both provenance and subspecies levels. Further studies should study the heritability of the oil content and its physicochemical properties before conclusive decisions on the use of seed for propagation are carried out.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7145113
spellingShingle Mussa Kamanula
Chimuleke Yangontha Munthali
John Finias Kamanula
Yield and Physicochemical Properties of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) Seed Oils among Nine International Provenances Tested in Malawi
International Journal of Agronomy
title Yield and Physicochemical Properties of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) Seed Oils among Nine International Provenances Tested in Malawi
title_full Yield and Physicochemical Properties of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) Seed Oils among Nine International Provenances Tested in Malawi
title_fullStr Yield and Physicochemical Properties of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) Seed Oils among Nine International Provenances Tested in Malawi
title_full_unstemmed Yield and Physicochemical Properties of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) Seed Oils among Nine International Provenances Tested in Malawi
title_short Yield and Physicochemical Properties of Marula (Sclerocarya birrea) Seed Oils among Nine International Provenances Tested in Malawi
title_sort yield and physicochemical properties of marula sclerocarya birrea seed oils among nine international provenances tested in malawi
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/7145113
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AT chimulekeyangonthamunthali yieldandphysicochemicalpropertiesofmarulasclerocaryabirreaseedoilsamongnineinternationalprovenancestestedinmalawi
AT johnfiniaskamanula yieldandphysicochemicalpropertiesofmarulasclerocaryabirreaseedoilsamongnineinternationalprovenancestestedinmalawi