Description

Canola is produced not only for oil, but also for its meal, which is a good source of protein for both animal and human consumption. The meal remaining after oil extraction is high in protein as a result of accumulation during seed development of napine and crisiferin storage proteins and oleosin, a structural protein associated with the oil bodies. Amino acid composition in part dictates the protein quality- next to protein; carbohydrates are the .largest component of the meal. Compared to the polysa-ccharides, the soluble carbohydrates, monosaccharides and oligosa-ccharides are a relatively small component of the mature seed. Polysaccharides, which have been isolated and at least partially characterized, include amyloids, arabinans, arabinogalactans, pectin, starch and lignin.