Phenology, Morphology, Yield and Quality Characteristics of Mustard Species (Brassica spp.) Suitable for Energy Sector

There is a need to identify new renewable, sustainable and clean energy sources in the world. This study was conducted to determine the genotypes of different Brassica species suitable for the energy sector. A total of 21 genotypes, consisting of 19 lines (B. juncea, B. nigra, Sinapis alba and B. rapa ssp. oleifera) and two standards (ISCI-99 and Excalibur used as control) were evaluated in the study. The research was carried out during 2019–20 and 2020–21 growing seasons at Tokat, Turkey. The parameters related to yield and yield components (days to emergence, days to rosette formation, winter survival percentage, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% capsule formation, days to maturation, plant height, number of lateral branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, thousand seed weight, seed yield), crude oil percentage, crude oil yield, fatty acid components, biodiesel production and their technical properties for appropriateness to bioenergy production were investigated. The results showed that the yield, yield components, oil content, fatty acid components and biodiesel technical properties of lines were significantly dissimilar. Seed yields varied between 37 and 1195 kg ha⁻¹ and the maximum seed yield was obtained in the second year of the study from the line 5. Oleic acid (C18:1; 17.12–26.8%), linoleic acid (C18:2; 13.15–24.60%), and erucic acid (C22:1; 12.13–42.76%) were the predominant fatty acids of the lines. The excess of monounsaturated fatty acids in the oils indicated that the fatty acid components are suitable for biodiesel production. Water content, cold filter plugging point, ester percentage, flash point, acid number, iodine number, and glyceride values of oils in all lines are within acceptable limits for biodiesel production according to TS EN 14214 standards. The yield and quality data of the species revealed that B. juncea and B. rapa lines have higher potential as a raw material source for biodiesel production.