Oil and Crude Protein Content of Almond Genotypes Selected in Serbia and Cultivars 'Troito', 'Texas' and 'Marcona'

Abstract

Ground raw kernels of almond genotypes were selected in northern Serbia, analysed for oil and crude protein content and compared with commercial cultivars 'Troito', 'Texas' and 'Marcona'. The samples were collected in an experimental orchard in Surduk locality. Oil content was determined by using NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) analyser, while protein content was determined by using the Kjeldahl method. The results showed a significant variation between the genotypes and the cultivars. The selections had oil content ranging from 47.27 to 53.61%, while oil content in the cultivars varied from 52.33 to 55.64%. The lowest crude protein content was 19.85% (01/03) and the highest was 29.18% (29/03). The obtained values indicate that the selected genotypes (with the exception of B/04) had less oil, while the 12 out of the 15 selected genotypes were richer in proteins compared with the commercial cultivars. The most interesting genotype was 24/03, having a high quality of kernel (51.33% of oil and 26.12% of crude proteins).