Variations in Fatty Acids,Phospholipids and Sterols During the Seed Development of a High Oleic Sunflower Variety

The changes in the content and composition of total fatty acids, phospholipids and sterol esters, and their fatty acids, and of free sterols and tocopherols in developing seeds of a selection of high oleic acid sunflower varieties grown in Bulgaria were examined over a period of 15th to 90th day after flowering by means of various chromatographic methods. Under the climatic and geographical conditions typical for the South-East Balkans phospholipid, sterol-, sterol ester- and tocopherol- species are formed practically completely in the first 15 days after flowering. Until the 90th day, only quantitative changes were detected to give a product with 65% oil content, 1% phospholipids, 0.3% total sterols and 0.09% tocopherols. Oleic acid is the main component in all acyl derivatives, reaching 85% of the total fatty acids while palmitic and stearic acid content is about 4% each. The product is a good quality HOSO with beneficial content of FA and good prospects as a salad and cooking oil.