ISHS Acta Horticulturae 629: XXVI International Horticultural Congress: The Future for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
FEASIBILITY OF CULTIVATION CALENDULA AS A DUAL PURPOSE INDUSTRIAL OILSEED AND MEDICINAL CROP |
| Authors: | R.W. Wilen, B. Barl, A.E. Slinkard, M.S. Bandara |
| Keywords: | Calendula officinalis, calendic acid, field trials, oil content, flavonoids, flower removal |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.629.26 |
| Abstract:
Calendula (Calendula officinalis L.)(Asteraceae) flowers have been used as anti-inflammatory and wound healing agents for hundreds of years. More recently, the calendula seed was found to contain up to 60 % calendic acid (C18:3  8t.10t,12c), which because of its high rate of oxidation has numerous industrial applications.
Two cultivars of calendula, ‘Resina’ and ‘Erfurter Orangefarbigen’ (EO) were evaluated for the feasibility of combined seed and flower production in western Canada.
Results from a two-year study indicated that both cultivars can produce a reasonable seed crop (400 – 950 kg/ha) on the prairies, if planted by the middle of May. ‘Resina’ was found to be higher seed yielding than ‘EO’ during both years of the study.
Seed of both cultivars contained on average 15 % (w/w) of oil with calendic acid accounting for 50 – 55 % of the oil.
These levels are similar to those reported in Europe.
Seed yield was not affected by flower removal after the middle of August.
Flavonoid content in flowers determined by HPLC and expressed as isorhamnetin glycosides was in the range of 0.62 % to 1.73 %. It was substantially higher in ‘EO’ than ‘Resina’. Flavonoid content in both cultivars decreased progressively from mid-August to mid-September.
Calendula has potential for cultivation as a dual purpose crop in western Canada.
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