Authors : D. S. Ghogare and G. S. Dhulgande
Page Nos : 20-22
Description :
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is adapted well to both subtropical and temperate areas and is drought tolerant. Its main oil storage organ is an achene with 50% oil content. Sunflower oil accounts for 9% of the world plant oil production, the main producers being Russia (20%), Europe (19%), Ukraine (15%), and Argentina (13%). Triacylglycerols, the main constituents of sunflower oil, are liquid at room temperature and have a low melting point. It produces high-quality edible oil. Besides food, sunflower oil is the main feedstock for the oleo chemical and cosmetics industries, for the synthesis of polyester films, modified resins, lacquers, copolymers, plasticizers, etc. Also, the high-oleic acid sunflower variety is used for biodiesel production. There are basically two parameters to adjudge any oil as the healthiest cooking oil: 1. NQI (Nutritional Quality Index i.e. poly-unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) / saturated fatty acid (SFA) ratio) 2. OSI (Oxidative stability index i.e. monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) / PUFA ratio. The present studies were undertaken to study the variability in oil content and fatty acid composition of prominent mutants of sunflower.
