Beechnuts as a Local Specialty in a Snowy Semi-mountainous Area in Central Japan Based on Their Production and Nutritional Traits

Ida Hideyuki, Takeuchi Sachie, Takasaki Sadako

doi:10.4005/jjfs.99.10

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

豪雪中山間地におけるブナ堅果の生産量と成分特性からみた特産物としての有用性
ゴウセツチュウサンカンチニオケルブナケンカノセイサンリョウトセイブントクセイカラミタトクサンブツトシテノユウヨウセイ

Search this article

Description

<p>Beechnuts (Fagus crenata seeds) were evaluated as a local specialty in a snowy semi-mountainous area in Japan. After monitoring the production of beechnuts in climax (C), satoyama (S), and isolated (I) stands for 11–17 years, a good or medium crop was observed biennially, every 2–4 years, and once in 17 years, respectively. The beechnut embryos had higher protein and lower lipid contents than those of commercial walnut. The oxidative stability of embryonic oil from beechnut was greater than that from walnut. The estimated potential quantity of beechnuts in a good crop was ca. 8 ton (equivalent to ca. 8 million yen) in the largest satoyama beech forests (ca. 5.5 ha) in the study area. To use beechnuts sustainably, various strategies should be adopted for different types of stand: in C, fallen beechnuts should be collected from managed open sites; in S, beechnuts should be collected actively to promote the re-use of satoyama sites; and in I, beechnuts should not be collected, to conserve the beech population. Therefore, although beechnuts will be available with appropriate resource management, it is necessary to find a way to increase their added-value to sustain them as a local specialty.</p>

Journal

Journal of the Japanese Forest Society

Journal of the Japanese Forest Society 99 (1), 10-17, 2017

THE JAPANESE FORESTRY SOCIETY

Keywords

Details 詳細情報について

Export