Oil content, fatty acids profile, acid and saponification values of poppy seeds grown on two localities of the Slovak Republic were evaluated in the study. Statistically significant effects of locality, genotype and their interaction (P < 0.05) for numerous descriptors were proved by non-parametric tests. Results confirmed that variation in the analysed parameters was influenced by the colour of seeds. Ochre variety Redy contained the highest oil level in both localities (49.9 and 52.4%) and linoleic acid level (74.3 and 71.6%). White-seeded Racek and Albín had the highest acid value (2.8 and 2.4% of free fatty acids) and grey-seeded Malsar and blue-seeded Maratón contained the highest saponification value. Buddha, a high-morphine poppy variety, differed significantly in all monitored parameters. High negative interrelation between linoleic and oleic acids levels was observed. Oil content was positively correlated with linoleic acid and negatively with oleic acid. Weather conditions at the end of vegetation influenced the accumulation of oil and essential linoleic acid.

Adverse environmental conditions, such as various biotic and abiotic stresses, are the primary reason for decreased crop productivity. Oat, as one of the world’s major crops, is an important cereal in human nutrition. The aim of this work was to analyze the effect of inoculation with two species of the genus Fusarium on the selected qualitative parameters of oat grain intended for the food industry. Artificial inoculation caused a statistically significant decrease in the content of starch, oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids in oat grains compared to the control. Moreover, artificial inoculation had no statistically significant effect on the content of β-D-glucans, total dietary fiber, total lipids, palmitic, stearic, and cis-vaccenic acids. An increase in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in oat grains was observed after inoculation. The most important indicator of Fusarium infection was the presence of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol in the grain. The content of β-D-glucans, as a possible protective barrier in the cell wall, did not have a statistically significant effect on the inoculation manifestation in the grain.

Euonymus species from the Celastraceae family are considered as a source of unusual genes modifying the oil content and fatty acid composition of vegetable oils. Due to the possession of genes encoding enzyme diacylglycerol acetyltransferase (DAcT), Euonymus plants can synthesize and accumulate acetylated triacyglycerols. The gene from Euonymus europaeus (EeDAcT) encoding the DAcT was identified, isolated, characterized, and modified for cloning and genetic transformation of plants. This gene has a unique nucleotide sequence and amino acid composition, different from orthologous genes from other Euonymus species. Nucleotide sequence of original EeDAcT gene was modified, cloned into transformation vector, and introduced into tobacco plants. Overexpression of EeDAcT gene was confirmed, and transgenic host plants produced and accumulated acetylated triacylglycerols (TAGs) in immature seeds. Individual transgenic plants showed difference in amounts of synthesized acetylTAGs and also in fatty acid composition of acetylTAGs.

Hemp seed (Cannabis sativa L.) is rich in many substances beneficial in human nutrition, especially proteins, lipids, and total dietary fibre. Contents of these primary metabolites were analysed in seeds of hemp cultivar Finola grown at three locations in Slovakia (Borovce, Vígľaš-Pstruša, Milhostov) within two years (2013, 2014). The average content of total dietary fibre was 36.10 ± 1.92%, lipids 32.05 ± 0.42%, and proteins 24.66 ± 0.55%. The main fatty acids in oil were linoleic, α-linolenic, and oleic acids. About 75% of all fatty acids were polyunsaturated ones. The content of lipids and fatty acids such as γ-linolenic, stearidonic, linoleic, α-linolenic, oleic, cis-vaccenic, stearic, and gadoleic acids, as well as total dietary fibre were significantly affected (P≤0.05) by the year of cultivation. Content of proteins, gadoleic and arachidonic acids were significantly (P≤0.05) influenced by maturity of seeds. The growing location significantly influenced the content of lipids, total dietary fibre, proteins, fatty acids, and the ratio saturated:polyunsaturated fatty acids.