Fatty Acid Profiles in Sunflower Grains During Storage in Different Environments

This study aimed to evaluate the fatty acid profiles of sunflower oil extracted from hybrid grains produced and stored in different environments. The trials were conducted in Teresina (Piauí), Vilhena (Rondônia), and Jaguariúna (São Paulo) in randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. After harvesting, grains from 1 high oleic and 3 traditional hybrids were packed in kraft paper bags and stored in a covered shed and in a cold chamber up to 12 months. The fatty acid profiles were determined by gas chromatography after 0, 4, 8, and 12 months of storage. Analyses of variance were conducted in a split‐plot design, with hybrids being considered as whole plots and storage times as subplots. Tukey's test was performed to compare hybrids and regression analyses for storage times. The initial fatty acid profile of the grains of the same hybrid varied depending on the production location. The grain storage of high oleic and traditional sunflower hybrids during 12 months in covered shed and in cold chamber resulted in little changes in oil fatty acid profiles, regardless of the initial contents. These changes occurred only for linoleic and palmitic acids.