Leaf yield and fatty acid composition of purslane (Portulaca oleracea l.) At different growth stages

Abstract

Purslane is a nutritious vegetable crop rich in the polyunsaturated essential fatty acids (PUEFA), which are essential for normal human growth, health promotion and disease prevention. Fatty acid concentrations at different stages of harvest (6, 10 and 14 true-leaf stages) were examined in a cultivated variety. Fourteen-leaf stage of growth was found to be ideal for harvest because at this stage the leaf area, leaf weight and the PUEFA concentrations per gram leaf dry weight (DW) were higher than at the six and ten true-leaf stages of growth. The a-linolenic acid to linolcic acid ratio was also the highest at fourteen-leaf stage.