Crop year effects on seed yields, growing cycle length, and chemical composition of chia (Salvia hispanica L) growing in Ecuador and Bolivia

Abstract

The chia (Salvia hispanica L.), belongs to the Lamiaceae family and is an annual herb that grows in summer. The present study was conducted on seeds commercially grown in two different ecosystems called Sub-Humid Chaco, in Bolivia, and Tropical Forest, in Ecuador. The crop year effect on the growing cycle length, seed yield, seed's protein content, lipid content, and fatty acids profile, was measured during four years. The seeds from Ecuador had higher average yields at each year crop, than the seeds from Bolivia. Overall, the oil of seeds from the Tropical Forest Ecosystem showed significant (P<0.05) higher content of α-linolenic fatty acid and significant (P<0.05) lower ω-6: ω-3 ratio than the oil of seeds from the Sub-Humid Chaco Ecosystem, and also the lowest significant (P<0.05) a-linoleic and oleic fatty acid concentrations. Regression analysis was performed, for a-linolenic vs. oleic and linoleic fatty acid contents. Analysis using combined data of fatty acids from all four years and from both ecosystems showed that a-linolenic fatty acid content was negatively correlated with its precursors, oleic (R2= 0.77, P < 0.0005) and linoleic (R2= 0.92, P < 0.0005) fatty acid. Comparing both countries, the oil from chia seeds grown in Ecuador showed more stability and a significant (P<0.05) higher a-linolenic fatty acid content than Bolivia.