The Relative Influence of Location and Tree Morphology on Allanblackia parviflora Oil Stability Properties

Vegetable oils are increasingly valued for their nutritional and industrial applications, which has driven interest in underutilised tree oil crops such as Allanblackia parviflora.This study aimed to evaluate the relative influence of tree morphology, location, and ecological zone on the oil stability properties and fatty acid composition of A. parviflora seed and kernel oils in Ghana, with implications for domestication and breeding.Oils were extracted from kernel (dehulled seed) and whole seed samples obtained from 157 trees across 16 communities spanning three ecological zones.Free fatty acid content and peroxide values were determined, and their relationships with tree morphological traits, oil yield, soil properties, community, and ecological zone were assessed.Free fatty acid values ranged from 0.12% -0.50% (mean 0.37%) for kernel oils and 0.12% -0.69% (mean 0.53%) for seed oils, while peroxide values ranged from 1.59 -4.00 meq/kg (mean 2.11 meq/kg) and 2.00 -6.00 meq/kg (mean 3.84 meq/kg), respectively.Although substantial tree-to-tree variation was observed, oil stability indices were not significantly influenced by tree morphology, soil properties, community, or ecological zone.These findings indicate that A. parviflora oil quality is relatively stable across ecological and morphological gradients, suggesting that individual tree selection rather than site-specific factors may be more critical for breeding and domestication programmes.The results provide a scientific basis for selecting superior trees to enhance the commercialisation and sustainable development of A. parviflora as a highvalue indigenous oil crop.