ISHS Acta Horticulturae 331: WOCMAP I - Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Conference: part 3 of 4
EVENING PRIMROSE: HARVEST METHODS AND TIMING |
| Authors: | M.J.A. Simpson, A.F. Fieldsend |
| Abstract:
Evening primrose (Oenothera spp.) seeds contain 17–25% oil of which 7–10% is gamma linolenic acid, an unusual fatty acid with proven value as a nutrient and prescription pharmaceutical. An increasing market for evening primrose oil requires increasing supplies of seed which may result from improved cultivars and husbandry techniques as well as spread of the crop to new production areas. One of the most significant advances in plant breeding was the development by the Scotia Plant Research Unit of cultivars with non-shedding pods. Agronomic field trials have also been conducted in recent years including several aimed at improving harvest method and timing with non-shedding types. Results indicated that swathing tended to produce higher yields than direct combining. Swathing just before or as the first pods turned brown produced yields as high as those obtained by swathing at later stages of maturity. | |
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