ABSTRACT

Research was conducted to determine the effects of immature and off-colored seed on milled flaxseed oil quality. Flaxseed was aspirated and separated into low, medium, and high-density fractions. Peroxide value (PV) and free fatty acid (FFA) content were highest in the low-density seed fraction and lowest in the high-density seed fraction. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) content was highest in the high-density fraction. Immature seed and off-colored seed were removed by hand from each flaxseed fraction and quantified. The low-density fraction contained the most immature and off-colored seed (2.8% and 4.2%, respectively). The immature seed and the off-colored seed were combined across all replications and density fractions for oil quality analyses. Immature seed had a PV of 2.69 meq/kg and a FFA content of 1.06%. The off-colored seed had a PV of 5.79 meq/kg and FFA content of 1.89%. Hand-cleaned seed averaged across density fraction had a PV of 0.41 meq/kg and a FFA content of 0.37%.