Characterization of the glycerolipid composition of a high‐palmitoleic acid sunflower mutant

The glycerolipid composition of a high‐palmitoleic acid sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) mutant accumulating up to 20% of n‐7 fatty acids was studied. This line produces oil with a complex triacylglycerol (TAG) composition, containing species that have not been previously identified in sunflower. In this regard, palmitoleic acid was esterified in an unexpected way in the three positions of the TAG molecules. The polar glycerolipid composition of the mutant was also studied, in order to identify and quantify the changes in membrane lipids imposed by the sunflower enzymatic machinery during the accumulation of the unusual n‐7 fatty acids. The high‐palmitoleic mutant accumulated important quantities of n‐7 fatty acids in the polar lipid fraction, especially in the phosphatidylcholine lipid class. However, the total polar lipid content of these lines was not affected. On the other hand, the mutations responsible for the n‐7 lipid accumulation induced an important decrease in the oil yield of the new mutant.