CURRENT STATUS OF LESQUERELLA AS AN INDUSTRIAL CROP

Authors: ABBOTT DR, THOMAS; DIERIG, DAVID - US WATER CONSERVATION LAB; FOSTER, MICHAEL - TX AG EXPERIMENT STATION; NELSON, JOHN - UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA; COATES, WAYNE - UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA; Frykman, Hans; CARLSON, KENNETH - RETIRED ARS; ARQUETTE, JAMES - INTL FLORA TECH LTD

Submitted to: Annual Meeting and Expo of the American Oil Chemists' Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Research and development of Lesquerella as an industrial crop is reviewed by summarizing progress in seven key areas - germplasm collection and evaluation, varietal development of seed and plant characteristics, agronomics, harvesting and seed treatment, seed processing to value-added raw materials and product/market development. Breeding studies are focused on increased oil, gum and lesquerolic acid content in addition to several other factors that improve oil yield and quality. Some self-pollinating and higher oil content varieties have been developed but improvements have not yet reached set goals. Preliminary guidelines for agronomics and seed processing are available, but significant improvements in all of these areas are needed to bring harvested yields up to 1500 lb/acre. The nature of seed processing will depend on the value of oil, gum and meal coproducts. Product development for high-volume, commodity- priced uses of the oil and meal is well established for paints, coatings, lubricants, greases or other applications. However, the economic information published to date indicates that such applications cannot justify the costs for growing and processing a new crop in its initial stages. Personal care applications have also been developed and offer a higher value market at lower levels of production.