| Abstract: | Crude fat and fatty acid profile of 35 foxtail millets including seven varieties planted in five different regions of China were studied. The fat content ranged from 3.38 to 6.49% (averaging 4.51%). The major fatty acid in foxtail millets was linoleic acid (averaging 66.68%), followed by oleic acid (averaging 16.11%), palmitic acid (averaging 7.42%), stearic acid (averaging 6.84%), and linolenic acid (averaging 2.48%). Two‐way ANOVA showed that fat content was significantly affected by millet variety and cultivation area (P < 0.05). Fatty acids including linoleic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, and linolenic acid varied significantly in different foxtail millet varieties (P < 0.05), except oleic acid (P > 0.05). Fatty acids including linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid did not change significantly in foxtail millets from different regions (P > 0.05), except linolenic acid (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that oleic acid was negatively correlated with palmitic acid and linoleic acid (P < 0.05), and linolenic acid was positively correlated with palmitic acid and linoleic acid but negatively correlated with stearic acid (P < 0.05). The research showed that millets with good fat composition can be obtained through breeding techniques or cultivation management. |
