Uman National University | today: 05/28/2026
| Author(s) |
Kononenko L.M., Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, , Uman National University of Horticulture, Ukraine Poltoretska N.M., Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, , |
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| Category | The Agronomy | ||
| year | 2026 | issue | Issue 108 part 1 |
| pages | 251-267 | index UDK | 633.854.78:631.563:665.3 | DOI | 10.32782/2415-8240-2026-108-1-251-267 (Link) |
| Abstract | Aims. To investigate the regularities of changes in the biochemical quality parameters of safflower oil depending on the degree of seed coat damage and storage temperature regimes. Methods. The study was conducted at the using safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius L.) harvested in 2023–2025. The experiment was designed as a four-factor model with three replications. The factors included: three safflower cultivars (Dobrynya, Zhyvchyk, Sonyachnyi), various degrees of mechanical seed damage (intact, micro-damage, and macro-damage), storage temperature regimes (+5°C, +15°C, +20°C), and exposure duration of up to 12 months. Results. The study established that the combination of mechanical damage to safflower seeds (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and storage temperature regimes significantly determines the biochemical stability of the lipid complex. With an increase in the degree of damage and storage temperature to +20°C, lipase activity increased by 5.8–15.7 times, leading to intensive hydrolysis of triglycerides. It was found that the peroxide value of oil in macro-damaged seeds reached critical values of 20.85–28.94 mmol/kg after 12 months, which is 12–16 times higher than the control. The content of natural antioxidants decreased sharply: the total tocopherol content fell by 57–74%, and carotenoids by 55–77%. The acid value of the oil in variants with kernel integrity violation at +20°C increased to 4.95–7.15 mg KOH/g, reclassifying the raw material into the technical grade. The highest biochemical resistance to oxidative processes was demonstrated by the Zhyvchyk cultivar, which retained 28% more tocopherols compared to the Sonyachnyi cultivar. The factor of mechanical damage accounted for 32–38% of the variability in the studied parameters. Conclusions. According to the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the degree of mechanical seed damage is the dominant factor influencing oil quality preservation (32.1–38.4%). Violation of the seed coat integrity triggers enzymatic lipase activation, leading to irreversible triglyceride hydrolysis even in the early stages of storage. The most intensive seed deterioration was recorded under the combination of macro-damage and a storage temperature of +20°C. In this variant, the peroxide value exceeded the regulatory threshold for food grade (10 mmol/kg) within 6 months, reaching critical levels (20.85–28.94 mmol/kg) by the end of the year, accompanied by a 5.8–8.2-fold increase in the acid value. An inverse relationship was established between lipid stability and natural antioxidant content. Under critical stress conditions (macro-damage, +20°C), a significant reduction in tocopherols (by 57.2–73.9%) and carotenoids (by 55.3–76.9%) was observed, resulting in the loss of biological value and complete unsuitability for food processing. Significant cultivar variability in biochemical stability was identified. The Zhyvchyk cultivar exhibited the highest resistance, maintaining oil stability 25–30% longer than the Sonyachnyi cultivar. To ensure long-term storage (up to 12 months) without loss of oil quality, it is essential to maintain a temperature regime of +5°C and minimize the proportion of damaged seeds in the batch (no more than 3–5%). If micro- and macro-damage exceeds 10%, the safe storage period under unregulated temperatures is reduced to 3 months. | ||
| Key words | safflower, lipase, tocopherols, storage, genotype, oxidative stability | ||