Open pollinated and hybrid sunflower seed structures that may affect processing for oil

Oil and wax contents of confectionery (non-oil) and oilseed, open-pollinated and hybrid sunflower seed and their hulls, testae, and kernels were determined. Wax content inversely correlated with hull content, and the degree to which the seeds were compressed corre-lated with hull thickness. Light and electron microscopy showed increased connective tissue in the hybrid seed. This combination of higher wax content in the dehulled hybrids and increased connective tissue between hull and kernel could explain the reports of high wax content of the oil from newly developed hybrid seed.