<sup>1</sup>H-NMR Profiling and Carbon Isotope Discrimination as Tools for the Comparative Assessment of Walnut (<i>Juglans regia</i> L.) Cultivars with Various Geographical and Genetic Origins—A Preliminary Study
Raluca Popescu,
Roxana Elena Ionete,
Oana Romina Botoran,
Diana Costinel,
Felicia Bucura,
Elisabeta Irina Geana,
Yazan Falah Jadee ’Alabedallat,
Mihai Botu
Affiliations
Raluca Popescu
National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies-ICSI Rm. Valcea, ICSI Analytics Group, 4 Uzinei Street, RO-240050 Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania
Roxana Elena Ionete
National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies-ICSI Rm. Valcea, ICSI Analytics Group, 4 Uzinei Street, RO-240050 Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania
Oana Romina Botoran
National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies-ICSI Rm. Valcea, ICSI Analytics Group, 4 Uzinei Street, RO-240050 Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania
Diana Costinel
National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies-ICSI Rm. Valcea, ICSI Analytics Group, 4 Uzinei Street, RO-240050 Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania
Felicia Bucura
National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies-ICSI Rm. Valcea, ICSI Analytics Group, 4 Uzinei Street, RO-240050 Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania
Elisabeta Irina Geana
National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenics and Isotopic Technologies-ICSI Rm. Valcea, ICSI Analytics Group, 4 Uzinei Street, RO-240050 Râmnicu Vâlcea, Romania
Yazan Falah Jadee ’Alabedallat
University of Craiova, Faculty of Horticulture, Department of Horticulture and Food Science, 13 Al. I. Cuza Street, RO-200585 Craiova, Romania
Mihai Botu
University of Craiova, Faculty of Horticulture, Department of Horticulture and Food Science, 13 Al. I. Cuza Street, RO-200585 Craiova, Romania
The aim of the study was to investigate the differences between walnut genotypes of various geographical and genetic origins grown under the same or different environmental conditions. The biological material analyzed consisted in walnut kernels of 34 cultivars, nine advanced selections, and six hybrids harvested in 2015 and 2016, summing up to a total of 64 samples. The walnuts, walnut oil, and residue were characterized in respect to their chemical (proximate composition—fat, protein, nutritional value, fatty acids profile by 1H-NMR) and carbon-13 isotopic composition. The data was used to statistically discriminate the cultivars according to composition, geographical area of origin, and year of harvest, comparing the Romanian cultivars, selections, and hybrids with the internationally available ones.
