Yields and chemical composition of biomass, seed and oil of ecotypes of Moringa oleifera Lamarck introduced in Sinaloa, Mexico

Abstract

Objectives: Among the ecotypes of M. oleifera introduced to Sinaloa, to select the most suitable for biomass, seed and oil production, and chemically characterize them. Design/methodology/approach: A orchard was established with 48 trees of 6 ecotypes of M. oleifera distributed randomly. At 16 months of age, the agronomic yields of stems, leaves, and seeds, the proximal composition of each fraction, the lignocellulosic profile of stems and the fatty acid content of the seed oil were determined. Results: Significant differences were found between ecotypes for all parameters, highlighting "Sinaloa" who produced the highest amount of seed, and "Mojolo" the highest yields of stems and leaves. The proximal analysis showed the highest lipid content in seed (48.2%) and oleic acid in the oil of the "Elota" ecotype. The profile of the lignocellulose components of stems indicated that "Sonora", "Elota" and "Sinaloa" have the highest proportion of holocellulose. “Sinaloa” obtained the highest yields per hectare of seed and oil, while, from the leaf, the “Mojolo” ecotype achieved the highest productivity per hectare of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates. Limitations /implications: This study is only comparative and includes 16 months in non-intensive cultivation. Findings/conclusions: "Mojolo" ecotype was the best for biomass production, and "Sinaloa" for seed and oil. The “Elota” ecotype presented the highest percentages of oil in the seed. Cross-experimentation between them is suggested to look for genetic improvements