Family: Tropaeolaceae
Genus: Tropaeolum
Species: majus
(i) General background on the plant
Somewhat succulent annual or perennial herb, procumbent or climbing by coiling petioles. Plants can reach 30 tall and 24cm spread. Leaves are glabrous, 4 - 15cm, flat and orb-shaped with stalks on the underside. Flowers are 3 - 6cm diameter, with 5 orange or red to yellow, or parti-coloured petals and a 2 - 4 cm straight spur at the base. The ovary is tri-locular, fruit are 3 indehiscent, 1-seeded carpel each of which separate from the central axis when mature.
Native to Peru and Colombia, nasturtiums are widely cultivated in gardens and have escaped and locally naturalized over much of Europe.
They require only poor soil and plenty of sun to bloom profusely over a long period.
(ii) Details of quality characters
One of the highest levels of erucic acid occurs in this species - the seed may contain up to 75% erucic acid. T.majus is unique among high-erucic acid species because it deposits a significant portion of erucic acid in the 2-position of glycerol, making trierucin a major component of the oil.
(iii) Current production and yields
Some seed growers have reported respectable commercial yields of nasturtium seed.
(iv) Constraints on production
The oil content is only 6 - 11%. Plants are also readily attacked by black aphids.
(v) Markets and market potential
Erucic acid has applications in the plastics industry, the erucamide being used as slip agent.
(vi) Other information
This plant has a relatively short growing season, an advantage over oilseed rape in the production of erucic acid.
(vii) Contacts
Springdale Crop Synergies Ltd,
Mr Clifford Spencer, Springdale Crop Synergies
Ltd, Rudston, Driffield, East
Yorkshire, YO25 4DJ
Telephone: +44 (0) 1262 421100
Website: www.springdale-group.com
(viii) References
Carlson, K.D. and Kleiman, R. Chemical Survey and Erucic Acid Content of Commercial Varieties of Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus L.
Smith, N. O. (1994) Department of Agriculture, University of Reading, Letter to Mrs Blackburn, Alternative crops unit, MAFF, Room 405, 10 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HH.