Chemical composition and oxidative stability of Sudanese pumpkin seed oil assessed using hybrid regression modeling

Sudanese local pumpkin ( Cucurbita pepo ) seed landraces represent a valuable yet underutilized genetic resource with potential for producing high-quality edible oil. This oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and tocopherols. This study analyzed 23 landrace samples from six Sudanese regions, focusing on oil characteristics, including oil content, fatty acid, tocopherol composition, and oxidative stability. Using mixed regression, the research used an observational analysis based on randomized sampling to determine these characteristics. The study revealed significant differences in oil content across regions, with South Kordofan yielding the highest oil content at 37.6%, followed closely by North Kordofan at 31.8%. The South Kordofan/A10 landrace emerged as the top performer, having an exceptional oil yield of 49.91%. Correlation analyses indicated a positive relationship between oil content and oleic acid (r = + 0.56) and a negative relationship with saturated fatty acids ( r = − 0.55). Among the landraces analyzed, GZ/A16, Gadarif/A17, and SK/A9 demonstrated the most oxidative stability, with induction times of 3.32 h, 3.13 h, and 3.10 h, respectively. Tocopherol content was found to be a significant driver of stability (r = + 0.673), confirmed by Elastic Net analysis (β=+0.563, R²=0.451). These findings indicate that analyzing oil content should be done alongside grouping similar landraces to make the best use of them. The Kordofan region is specifically recommended for high oil content, while tocopherol-rich landraces from Gadarif and the Nile basin are ideal candidates for applications emphasizing stability and nutraceutical benefits. These findings provide a basis for the selection, conservation, and utilization of superior pumpkin germplasm in breeding and value-added oil production programs.