Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology

The study was carried out with an objective to assess the best storage possibility for seeds and kernels of Buchanania lanzan Spreng. to maximise Oil content with least degradation in its quality. The seeds were collected from a phenotypically superior tree from the Sundergarh Forest Division of Odisha and were air dried for 3 days followed by oven dried at 50⁰ C for 12 hrs. The Seeds and Kernel were stored separately under various storage conditions i.e. Open Polythene bags in Light (OPL), Closed Polythene bag in Light (CPL), Closed Polythene bag in Dark (CPD) and Open Polythene bag in Dark (OPD) for different storage durations  (0, 30, 60 ,90 and 120 days). The Oil was extracted by Soxhlet apparatus using Petroleum ether (60^oC-80^oC) and observation were then recorded for the Oil content (%) and its Physicochemical properties like Acid value, Saponification value, Ester value, Carbonyl value, and Density. The oil content, Acid value, Saponification value, Ester value decreased while the Carbonyl value increased with increase in storage period. Kernel was a better storage option than seed for maintaining higher quality of Oil irrespective of storage conditions and durations. CPD may be considered as best storage option for maintain all oil qualities irrespective of seed or kernel as storage material. 60 days of storage duration may be considered ideal storage period with least degradation in oil and its quality. The best storage combination for maintaining higher Oil content and better quality was kernels stored for 120 days in closed dark so as for better utilisation in food, biodiesel, medicinal and other purposes. The correlation study revealed strong positive correlation between saponification value and ester value. Oil content also showed positive correlation with ester value and saponification value whereas negative correlation with carbonyl value and acid value.