Composition of jojoba seed during development

Abstract

AbstractData were taken on developing jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis [Link] Schneider) seed to determine what differences should be expected in quantity and quality of wax and meal when seed is harvested before complete maturation. Analyses were carried out for seed wt; moisture, protein, and wax contents; fatty acid and alcohol composition of the wax; and amino acid composition of the meal of seed samples collected from a natural population in Aguanga, Calif., at weekly intervals from June 20 to maturity on August 15. Wax content of the seed increased rapidly during the first 4 weeks from 13.5–40.5% and slower later, from 43.6–49.4%. Protein content of the meal increased at a slow steady rate during the entire period from 22.3–32.6%. Seed harvested 20 days prior to full maturity had essentially the same wax and protein contents as mature seed; it had lower seed wt and excessively high moisture though. The amino acid content of the meal increased considerably between the first and last sampling from 13.40–26.18% by wt. Certain amino acids increased at a faster rate than others. Whereas major changes occurred in the fatty acid composition of the wax, the alcohol composition remained unchanged throughout the sampling period.