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Chemical and Morphological Characteristics of Seeds of Some Sunflower Species 1
Author(s) -
Dorrell D. G.,
Whelan E. D. P.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1978.0011183x001800060015x
Subject(s) - helianthus annuus , biology , sunflower , botany , cultivar , linoleic acid , helianthus , perennial plant , ploidy , horticulture , fatty acid , biochemistry , gene
Six species of wild sunflower ( Helianthus ), including the diploid annuals, H. annuus L. and H. petiolaris Nutt., the diploid perennials, H. giganteus L. and H. maximiliani Schrad., and the hexaploid perennials H. rigidus L. and H. tuberosus L. which are native to southwestern Manitoba and the north central Great Plains, were analyzed. The latter four species were characterized by small seed which averaged 3.4 g/1000, medium‐low oil content, 25.3%, low concentration of palmitic and stearic acids, 4.7 and 1.8%, respectively, and a high concentration of linoleic acid, 81.9%. The remaining species, H. annuus and H. petiolaris , had larger seeds, 7.3 g/1,000 medium oil content, 28.8%, low concentrations of chlorogenic acid, 2.5%, and a high concentration of linoleic acid, 79.6%. This compares with 59.5 g, 44.4, 3.7, and 71.8%, respectively, for the cultivar ‘Saturn’. If wild H. annuus and H. petiolaris are used to transfer desirable agronomic characteristics to cultivated sunflowers, they have the potential of improving oil quality characteristics. Furthermore, they hybridize much more readily with sunflowers than the other species studied.