| Abstract: | Environmental Effect on Fat Content and Fatty Acid Pattern of Different Varieties of Sunflower Crude fat content and fatty acid composition have been determined for two years on experimental crops of 8 and 15 varieties respectively of sunflower grown in two different locations in Central Europe and of one variety grown in East Africa. Crude fat content in fruits varied in the different locations (29% in Mozambique compared to 35% in Europe) and also from variety to variety (24.3% upto 45.1%). No correlation existed between the fatty acid composition and oil content. A distinct negative relationship was found between the linoleic and oleic acid content (r = –0.931). Under cold growth conditions an increase in linoleic acid content and a decrease in oleic acid was observed. Under dry and warm conditions during the short days at Mozambique, the level of linoleic acid was 46% compared to 72 in Europe. The corresponding values for oleic acid were on average 17% in Europe and 44% in Mozambique. Certain variational differences were observed, however, only to minute extent compared to locational differences. |
