The chemical composition (total oil content, fatty acids, triacylglycerols (TAGs) and polar compounds) of six walnuts (Juglans regia L.) cultivars (Lauzeronne, Franquette, Hartley, Local pt, Local gd and Parisienne) collected from Mateur (north of Tunisia) was evaluated. The major fatty acids found in the walnut oils are linoleic acid (60.42-65.77%), oleic acid (13.21-19.94%) and linolenic acid (7.61-13%). The TAG species were mainly composed of trilinolein (LLL), dilinoleoyl-linolenoyl-glycerol, dilinoleoyl-oleoyl-glycerol and palmitoyl-dilinoleoyl-glycerol classes. The results revealed that Local pt variety has the highest level of oil (62.56%), linoleic acid (65.77%) and LLL (33.48%). Significant differences among oil samples were observed, therefore showing a great variability in the oil composition among cultivars.
Keywords: Juglans regia L; fatty acids; polar compounds; triacylglycerols; varietal effect.