Tocopherols and phytosterols in sunflower seeds for the human food market

A. Fernández-Cuesta; A. Nabloussi; J. M. Fernández-Martínez; L. Velasco

doi:10.3989/gya.010112

Authors

A. Fernández-Cuesta Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (IAS-CSIC)
A. Nabloussi INRA-CRRA. P.O
J. M. Fernández-Martínez Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (IAS-CSIC)
L. Velasco Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (IAS-CSIC)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/gya.010112

Keywords:

Confectionery sunflower, Oil content, Oilseed sunflower, Phytosterols, Tocopherols, Variability

Abstract

Sunflower seeds for the human food market are derived from both oilseed-type cultivars, with black achenes and low hull proportion, and confectionery-type cultivars, with striped achenes and high hull proportion. The objective of this research was to evaluate tocopherol and phytosterol contents in the seeds of both types of cultivars. Five oilseed-type and seven confectionery-type cultivars were evaluated in replicated field trials in two locations of Morocco and Spain. Large variations were found in hundred-kernel weight (2.6 to 5.5 g), kernel oil content (42.7 to 67.5%), tocopherol content (203 to 397 mg kg^–1 kernel), and phytosterol content (2179 to 3555 mg kg^–1 kernel). Both types of cultivars did not differ for kernel weight, kernel oil content, or tocopherol and phytosterol profiles. However, oilseed-type cultivars had significantly greater average tocopherol and phytosterol contents, though confectionery-type cultivars with levels of tocopherols and phytosterols similar to the best oilseed-type cultivars were identified. The large variations in kernel tocopherol and phytosterol contents found in this research suggest that there is room for breeding for increased levels of these compounds in order to develop healthier sunflower cultivars for the human food market.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Ayerdi-Gotor A, Farkas E, Berger M, Labalette F, Centis S, Dayde J, Calmon A. 2007. Determination of tocopherols and phytosterols in sunflower seeds by NIR spectrometry. Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. 109, 525-530. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejlt.200600236

Buendia MO, D’Appolonia BL. 1986. Storage studies on confectionery sunflower kernels. Cereal Chem. 63, 85-88.

El Asri M, Nabloussi A, Essahat A, El Fechtali M, Alghoum M. 2006. Enquête sur l’autoproduction des semences de tournesol et la collecte de populations locales au Maroc (zone du Gharb). Al Awamia 118/119, 86-102.

Fernández-Cuesta A, Aguirre-González MR, Ruiz-Méndez MV, Velasco L. 2012. Validation of a method for the analysis of phytosterols in sunflower seeds. Eur. J. Lipid Sci. Technol. 114, 325-331. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejlt.201100138

Fernández-Martínez JM, Pérez-Vich B, Velasco L. 2009. Sunflower, in Vollmann J, Rajcan I (Eds.) Oil Crops. Springer, New York, pp. 155-232.

Goffman FD, Velasco L, Thies W. 1999. Quantitative determination of tocopherols in single seeds of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Fett/Lipid 101, 142-145.

Izquierdo NG, Mascioli S, Aguirrezábal LAN, Nolasco SM. 2007. Temperature influence during seed filling on tocopherol concentration in a traditional sunflower hybrid. Grasas Aceites 58, 170-178.

Kaya Y. 2004. Confectionery sunflower production in Turkey, in Proc. 16th Int. Sunflower Conf., Fargo, ND, USA, pp. 817-822.

Lloyd-Williams F, Mwatsama M, Ireland R., Capewell S. 2008. Small changes in snacking behaviour: the potential impact on CVD mortality. Public Health Nutr. 12, 871-876. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1368980008003054 PMid :18671888

Lofgren JR. 1997. Sunflower for confectionery food, bird food, and pet food, in Schneiter AA (Ed.) Sunflower Technology and Production. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, USA, pp. 747-764.

Marinković R. 1992. Path-coefficient analysis of some yield components of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Euphytica 60, 21-205.

Miller JF, Fick GN. 1997. The genetics of sunflower,in Schneiter (Ed.)Sunflower Technology and Production. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, USA, pp. 441-495.

Nabloussi A, El Asri M, Akhtouch B, Gosset H, El Fechtali M, Alghoum M. 2005.Amélioration génétique du tournesol, in AbbadAndaloussi F, Chahbar A (Eds.) La Création Variétale à l’INRA: Méthodologie, Acquis et Perspectives. Institut Nationale de la Recherche Agronomique, Rabat, Morocco, pp. 237-252.

National Sunflower Association. 2011. Sunflower Statistics. World Supply and Disappearance. Retrieved December 30, 2011 from: http://www.sunflowernsa.com/stats/world-supply/.

Padley FB, Gunstone FD, Harwood JL. 1994. Occurrence and characteristics of oils and fats,in Gunstone FD, Harwood JL, Padley FB (Eds.) The Lipid Handbook. Chapman & Hall, London, pp. 47-223.

Phillips KM, Ruggio DM, Ashraf-Khorassani M. 2005. Phytosterol composition of nuts and seeds commonly consumed in the United States. J. Agric. Food Chem. 53, 9436-9445. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf051505h PMid :16302759

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2011. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 24. Retrieved December 30, 2011 from: http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid 5 8964.

Velasco L, Fernández-Martínez JM, García-Ruiz R, Domínguez J. 2002. Genetic and environmental variation for tocopherol content and composition in sunflower commercial hybrids. J. Agric. Sci.139, 425-429. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021859602002678

Velasco L, Del Moral L, Pérez-Vich B, Fernández-Martínez JM. 2010. Selection for contrasting seed tocopherol content in sunflower seeds. J. Agric. Sci. 148, 393-400. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0021859609990608

Vlahakis C, Hazebroek J. 2000. Phytosterol accumulation in canola, sunflower, and soybean oils: effects of genetics, planting location, and temperature. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc.77, 49-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11746-000-0008-6

Zhang H. 2004. Sunflower needed by the Chinese market, in Proc. 16th Int. Sunflower Conf., Fargo, ND, USA, pp. 823-826.