XVI International Botanical Congess

Halophytic plants are able to grow in high saline soils and their seeds can germinate in saline as high as 800 mM NaCl. Seeds from ten different halophytes were analyzed for fatty acid composition. The percent saturated and percent unsaturated fatty acids were as follows: Kochia scoparia (37.9/62.1), Suaeda moquinii black seeds (31.6/68.4), Suaeda moquinii-brown seeds (24.8/75.2), Salicornia rubra (46.9/52.1), Sisymbrium altissimum (69.7/30.3), Atriplex patula (56.3/43.7), Triglochin maritima (27.7/72.3), Sarcobatus vermiculatus (81.8/18.2), Scirpus maritimus (92.7/7.3), Salicornia utahensis (27.5/72.5), Allenrolfea occidentalis (87.5/12.5). The seeds of these plants could be extracted to obtain cooking oil for use in areas with high saline soils.