ARS | Publication request: ACHENE OIL CONCENTRATION AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF ANNUAL SPECIES AND HELIANTHUS (ASTERACENE) SPECIES FROM CANADA.

Submitted to: International Botanical Congress
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 28, 1999
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Achenes are the primary storage tissue for accumulating oil. The composition of the oil determines the suitability of the oil for either edible or industrial uses. This study examined the oil content and fatty acid composition and their interrelationships with abiotic factors of two annual sunflower species, Helianthus annuus and H. petiolaris from the prairie provinces of Canada. Four major fatty acids, palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic were observed. The highest average oil content observed was in H. petiolaris with 31.4% followed by H. annuus with 25.6%, respectively. H. annuus had the highest palmitic and stearic acids with 4.3% and 2.9%, respectively. H. petiolaris had the highest oleic acid with 18.1%, while linoleic acid was equal with 75% for both species. Latitude was negatively correlated with palmitic and stearic acids, and positively correlated with linoleic acid. Longitude was positively correlated with palmitic acid, while altitude was positively correlated with stearic and palmitic acids.