Sunflower fatty acid composition, climate

Salera and Baldini, 1998). Salunkhe et al. (1992) reported that in HO sunflower seed, fatty acid composition was not affected by climatic conditions. Additionally, in HO mutants the oleic and linoleic acid contents were less influenced by temperature than standard genotypes (Flagella et al., 2000). Lagravere et al. (2000) foimd that the HO hybrids they studied were insensitive to temperature conditions. In contrast, Champolivier and Merrien (1996) suggested that temperature had an effect on oleic acid content in HO sunflower hybrids. 

Lajara, J. R., Diaz, U. and Diaz-Quidiello, R. 1990. Definite influence of location and climatic conditions on the fatty acid composition of sunflower seed oil. Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society 67 618-623. 

The TG fatty acid composition within a plant species depends on the environment, especially the temperature. A general rule is that plants in cold climates produce a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. Obviously, the mobility of TGs is thus retained. In the sunflower (cf. Fig. 3.10), this rule is highly pronounced whereas in safflower, only a weak response to temperature variations is observed (Fig. 3.10). 

Composition and Uses. The sunflower kernel represents 75% of the seed, with an oil content of approximately 55%, amounting to 41% with respect to the whole seed (Figure 9.1.25). Sunflower oil contains >85% unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic acid accounting for 60%. The linoleic acid content in the original linoleic sunflower oil is very much dependent on climatic conditions and can deviate as much as 20% from the average. Selected parcels... 

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