EVALUATION OF SELECTED POPPY (Papaver somniferum L.) CULTIVARS: INDUSTRIAL ASPECT

Abstract

Fifty-six genotypes (usually cultivars) of various origins, from twelve countries, were analysed for morphine production and significant characteristics of the capsule. The Saaty’s method was used to analyse the aspect of morphine production and significant characteristics of the capsule, comparing those values representing significant indicators for that production and the content of morphine in poppy straw. This covered the relation to ideotype (‘ideotype cultivar’) of poppy, with 100% values in the monitored indicators. In the case of white-seed poppies, generally with a lower content of morphine, in three cultivars (´Pulawski bialy´, ´Bělosemenný´, ´Bulharský slepák bílý´) the value of the industrial indicator was determine over 50% and the content of morphine over 0.50% in the poppy straw. In the set of blue-seed cultivars with three production levels, four cultivars were found with values exceeding 80% of the industrial indicator and morphine in poppy straw over 0.90%. In the set of grey-seed cultivars, four production levels were identified based on the values of morphine and the industrial indicator, while the first two showed good values for production - at least 0.52% of morphine in poppy straw and 50% of the industrial indicator (for example ´Soproni tef´, ´Šarišský´).