Potentials in vegetable oils and various nutrients of eighteen varieties of Niger Cucurbitaceae

Citrullus Colocynthis and Lagenaria siceraria are two species of Cucurbitaceae whose seeds are used for the production of dough, cakes and edible oils in Niger. Yield in seeds of 18 varieties belonging to these two species were assessed on the Faculty experimental field. The average berries production was 17 berries per plant the first year in contrast 6 the second year. The best productivity was achieved with Citrullus colocynthis which gave 82 berries per plant the 1st year. The average yield in seeds was 180.15 kg/ha the first year and 704.30 kg/ha the second year. The determination of the physicochemical characteristics showed water, ashes, fat, and protein contents which vary respectively from 7 to 9.50%, 4.13 to 4.84%, 18 to 47% and 11 to 35%. The yield in seeds oil varied from 13.7 to 134 L per ha in the first year and 0.26 liters to 800 L per ha the 2nd year. These are the first studies on Cucurbitaceae which link agronomic and physicochemical characteristics of seeds. They showed very important nutrient contents and oil yield, and even higher than some conventionaloilseeds. Extraction of oils from these seeds could meet the need of the populations.Keywords: Cucurbitaceae, Niger, yield, seeds, oils, food security