FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF OIL FROM FRUITS OF THREE Pistacia SPECIES GROWING IN IRAN

摘要

The Pistacia genus is classified into the Anacardiaceae family, which consists of 11 species. Three Pistacia species occur naturally in Iran, including Pistacia vera, Pistacia atlantica, and Pistacia khinjuk. P. khinjuk and P. atlantica grow wildly and largely in the southwest and west of Iran. P. atlantica var mutica is the most popular species of P. atlantica. P. vera is a single domestic species of Pistacia genus, too. The major pistachio producers in the world are Iran, USA, Turkey, and Syria. Iran, with its 350,000 ha of P. vera growing area, is indeed the greatest pistachio producer in the world. The most popular cultivar of P. vera in Iran is Ohadi (more than 60%).