AUTHOR=Tietel Zipora , Melamed Sarit , Galilov Izabella , Ben-Gal Alon , Dag Arnon , Yermiyahu Uri 

TITLE=Elevated nitrogen fertilization differentially affects jojoba wax phytochemicals, fatty acids and fatty alcohols

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=Volume 15 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1425733

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1425733

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=Jojoba wax is gaining popularity among cosmeHcs consumers for its skin wound healing and rejuvenaHon bioacHviHes, a_ributed to collagen and hyaluronic acid synthesis. However, informaHon regarding wax phytochemical composiHon and quality parameters, as well as effect of culHvaHon pracHces, and ferHlizaHon in parHcular, on wax quality is limited. The aim of the current work was to study the effect of nitrogen (N) availability to jojoba plants on wax phytochemical composiHon and beneficial skin-related contents. For this, wax quality from a sixyear ferHlizaHon experiment with five N applicaHon levels was evaluated. The chemical parameters included anHoxidant acHvity, free fa_y acid, total tocopherol, total phytosterol and oxidaHve stability, as well as fa_y acid and fa_y alcohol profile. Our results reveal that the majority of wax quality traits were affected by N ferHlizaHon level, either posiHvely or negaHvely.InteresHngly, while fa_y acids were unaffected, fa_y alcohol composiHon was significantly altered by N level. AddiHonally, fruit load also largely affected wax quality, and, due to jojoba's biennial alternate bearing cycles, harvest year significantly affected all measured parameters. Results shed light on the effects of N applicaHon on various biochemical consHtuents of jojoba wax, and imply that N availability should be considered part of the enHre agricultural management plan to enhance wax quality. Some traits are also suggested as possible chemical quality parameters for jojoba wax.