Determinants of Oil and Fatty Acid Accumulation in Peanut

The fluctuations in temperature and moisture availability affect the quantity and quality of seed oil. Fatty acid composition is a major determinant of oil quality. Seven peanut cultivars were tested at three locations i.e. Rawalpindi, Chakwal and Attock to determine the environmental effects on oil accumulation and fatty acid composition. Experiments were laid out in r andomized complete block design having four replications. Cultivars exhibited significant differences for oil, palmatic, oleic and linoleic acid. Locations showed non significant differences for oil but significant ones for fatty acids. Interactive effects of cultivars and locations for all the parameters were found to be significant. Significant variations for all the parameters among cultivars, locations and their interaction are attributable to temperature, moisture availability (rainfall distribution and intensity) and total sunshine hours particularly from flowering to maturity. It is concluded that these factor...