Postharvest changes of rapeseed oil quality as affected by storage conditions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test whether variations in storage conditions throughout one year affect quality of oil of five different rapeseed genotypes (NS Vid, NS Pek, AMJ3, Traviata, NS Ras) harvested from three localities in Serbia (Pancevo, Rimski Sancevi, Sombor). Harvested seeds were stored in a cold room with invariable conditions (4±1°C, 60% humidity) and store room with variable conditions (up to 5°C higher than environmental). Oil samples were obtained by cold pressing rapeseed 0, 6 and 12 months after the harvest and further analyses were performed to monitor content and composition of fatty acids, tocopherols and antioxidant capacity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity assay). The fatty acid composition was determined by gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionizing detector after derivatization to their volatile methyl esters. Quantification of tocopherols was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.