Basic Information - Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Crop Plants - page 10

A third type of sunflower oil is high-oleic. High-oleic oil contains
800 g/kg or more oleic acid and 60 g/kg palmitic and 30 g/kg of stearic
fatty acids. This type of oil is preferred in the frying industry since it does
not require hydrogenation and thus contains no trans fats. It is well
recognized in the food industry that high oleic and saturated fatty acids
provide frying functionality. Increasing saturated fatty acids in frying oil
was never an objective because highly saturated oils had already been largely
eliminated from the domestic market due to health concerns. High-oleic
sunflower oil has only a moderate level of saturated fatty acids at
approximately 90 g/kg. Currently, the production of high oleic sunflower
oil is limited. The high oxidative stability of this oil makes it a potentially
good choice for biofuels, but actual use will depend to a large extent on its
price relative to that of petroleum-based chemicals. Several reports have
been published evaluating sunflower oil and its blends with diesel as a fuel
(Morrison et al. 1995). In addition, with the development of high-oleic
sunflower hybrids, sunflower oil has become a more important feedstock
for the oleochemical industry, in which the cosmetics industry is a major
user (Luhs and Friedt 1994).
Non-oilseed or confectionery sunflower usually has very large black-
with-white-striped achenes; i.e., those achenes that pass over a 7.9-mm round
hole sieve are used as a confection or snack food, usually roasted and salted.
Sunflower kernels are also used in the baking industry, as a condiment for
salads and other foods. Non dehulled or partially dehulled sunflower meal
can be substituted successfully for soybean meal of equal protein percentage
in feeding ruminant animals. Partially or completely dehulled sunflower
meal is desirable for feeding swine and poultry. Achenes are also used for
feeding birds and in small animal feed.
1.2.2.2 Protein
Protein concentration of achenes is of interest for human and livestock
consumption, but is also usually related to the production of oil in the
achenes. Commercial sunflower meal has a protein concentration of
approximately 440 g/kg (dehulled) and 280 g/kg (whole achene) (Dorrell
and Vick 1997). Variability among lines or genotypes for protein
concentration is sufficient for selection to increase protein concentration of
sunflower achenes in a breeding program. However, selection for high
protein usually results in lower oil concentration because of a negative
correlation between the two traits. Breeding to improve protein concentration
of sunflower kernels from about 240 to near 400 g/kg, while maintaining
acceptable oil concentration, appears to be a realistic objective (Ivanov and
Stoyanova 1978).