Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the chemical and mineral contents of eighteen walnut genotypes which were newly selected from Hizan (Bitlis) located in Eastern Anatolia. The protein, total fat, total oil (saturated and unsaturated oil) compositions and mineral contents were investigated. It was found that the average value for protein was 18.1% and for total fat was 58.2%. Saturated fatty acids composition values were less than the values of monounsaturated fatty acids composition and polyunsaturated fatty acids composition in all genotypes. Among the identified fatty acids, linoleic acid (50.58 - 66.60%) was the predominant fatty acid followed by oleic acid (14.88 - 28.71%) and linolenic acid (9.16 -16.42%) in all genotypes. The other fatty acids were found in trace contents. The minimum and maximum macronutrient contents of walnut were determined as mg100 g^-1 for K (911.0 - 684.3), P (434.7 - 356.2), Ca (756.7 - 388.2), Mg (444.0 - 330.8) and Na (48.9 - 26.1) while minimum and maximum micronutrient contents of walnut were determined for Fe (6.6 - 4.3), Cu (2.8 - 1.8), Mn (5.7 - 2.7) and Zn (4.3 - 2.7). The potassium contents were found to be higher than those of the other minerals in all kernels of the walnuts.

Key words: Fatty acids, mineral contents, walnut.