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Quality of western Canadian canola 2016

Glucosinolate content

The 2016 total glucosinolate content averaged 10 µmoles/gram, similar to what was observed in 2015 (11 µmoles/gram). Since 2009, total glucosinolate content averages remained in the 10 µmoles/gram range (Figure 10). There was no real difference in total glucosinolates content between various crop districts or provinces. This is a direct result of breeding efforts from various breeding programs to maintain low glucosinolate contents and linked to the Canadian canola registration program (Western Canadian Canola Rapeseed Registration Committee).

The average level of total glucosinolates in the December 2016 canola exports was 12 µmoles/gram of seed, similar to what was observed in the 2016 harvest survey. Glucosinolate contents of canola exports for the 2015 to 2016 shipping season will remain similar to the averages observed during the 2015 to 2016 shipping season.

Figure 10 Canola, No. 1 Canada - harvest samples, 2000 to 2016 - Total glucosinolate content of the seed (µmoles/gram seed, at 8.5% moisture)

Glucosiolate content,2000 to 2016.Details below

  • Details
    Glucosiolate content of the seed (µmoles/gram seed, at 8.5% moisture), 2000 to 2016
    Year Glucosiolate content of the seed (µmoles/gram seed, at 8.5% moisture)
    2016 Data
    2015 10.9
    2014 9.8
    2013 10.1
    2012 10.9
    2011 10.3
    2010 9.9
    2009 9.6
    2008 8.5
    2007 9.8
    2006 10.0
    2005 9.5
    2004 9.4
    2003 11.2
    2002 12.4
    2001 10.9
    2000 9.9

Figure 11 Canola, No. 1 Canada - harvest samples, 2000 to 2016 - Total glucosinolate content of oil-free meal (µmol/g meal, dry basis)

Total glucosinolate content of oil-free meal.Details below

  • Details
    Total glucosinolate content of oil-free meal (µmol/g meal, dry basis)
    Year Total glucosinolate content of oil-free meal (µmol/g meal, dry basis)
    2016 Data
    2015 23.1
    2014 20.8
    2013 21.7
    2012 22.7
    2011 22.2
    2010 21.0
    2009 20.4
    2008 18.1
    2007 20.3
    2006 21.4
    2005 20.1
    2004 19.5
    2003 22.5
    2002 25.2
    2001 22.4
    2000 20.6
Table 4 Total glucosinolate content of oil-free meal (µmoles/gram meal, dry basis) – 2016 harvest - Canola quality data by grade and province
Number of samples GlucosinolatesFootnote1, µmoles/gram
Mean Minimum Maximum
Canola, No. 1 Canada
Manitoba 417 10 4 15
Saskatchewan 806 11 4 16
Alberta-British ColumbiaFootnote2 604 13 4 19
Western CanadaFootnote3 1827 11 4 19
Canola, No. 2 Canada
Manitoba 12 11 10 13
Saskatchewan 15 12 8 14
Alberta-British ColumbiaFootnote2 24 10 7 15
Western CanadaFootnote3 51 11 7 15
Canola, No. 3 Canada
Western CanadaFootnote3 11 10 7 13
Canola, Sample Canada
Western CanadaFootnote3 26 12 8 30

In 2016, 10 µmoles/gram of total glucosinolates in the seed corresponded to 22 µmoles/gram in oil-free meal on dry basis, similar to the 5-year average (21 µmoles/gram of meal dry basis) and slightly lower than the 2015 harvest average (23 µmoles/gram of meal dry basis) (Figure 11). This calculated value agrees with the canola definition (less than 30 10 µmoles of total glucosinolates per gram of oil-free meal on dry basis). However, it gives an overestimation of total glucosinolate in canola meal obtained from Canadian conventional crushing plants (expeller press followed by solvent extraction) since it assumes that 100% of the oil was recovered from the seed during crushing and that no glucosinolate was destroyed during processing, which is not the case.

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