Oil Composition Variations - Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Crop Plants - page 258

8
Oil Composition Variations
André Bervillé
ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the range of fatty acid composition and
variation, the nature of mutations, and environmental factors that
may modify oil composition. Sunflower oil contains fatty acids and
minor compounds such as tocopherols and phytosterols. Current
knowledge of fatty acid, tocopherol and phytosterol synthesis and
signalling pathways in model plants is discussed. Each major fatty
acid variation, eventual mutants, and their roles are unravelled as to
how they function in the pathway. The role that eventual abiotic stresses
play is developed and discussed. Specific attention is given to oil
modifications brought about by mutants with economic importance
to the industry (oil rich in palmitic or stearic acid) or to prevent heart
diseases (oil rich in oleic acid or well balanced in polyunsaturated fatty
acids). Variation in minor compounds observed in sunflower oil are
also discussed and the possibility to breed sunflower for these
compounds.
Keywords: fatty acids; mutants; oil composition; oleic acid; palmitic
acid; stearic acid
8.1 Introduction
This chapter deals with the range of variation in composition observed in
sunflower oils including the oil phenotypes and the nature of the mutation
which are revealed as well as the environmental factors that may modify oil
composition in this crop.
INRA, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, UMR DIAPC, 1097, 2 Place Viala,
34060 Montpellier cedex 1, France; e-mail: [e-mail]