Transgenic Sunflower - Genetics, Genomics and Breeding of Crop Plants - page 306

by consumers' attitude. At present one can expect a complete acceptance in
the increasing biofuels market ( Table 9-6 ). However this competition seems
to leave sunflower behind because other suitable crops like soybean and
rapeseed already have available transgenic varieties.
Although sunflower has a high oil concentration, agro-ecological
adaptation would not be an advantage. Rapeseed has diffused in cold-
temperate regions (like Canada, Australia, and the US), soybean
predominates in warm-temperate ones (like Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia)
while in tropical regions (Malaysia, Indonesia) edible oil is obtained from
palm ( Elaeis spp.) whose oil production is five-fold compared to sunflower.
In high quality edible oil markets sunflower presents advantages that
make it a very competitive crop and should be used to increase its value.
Mid-oleic varieties obtained from natural mutation (NuSun) present rates
of saturated, mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids close to those
recommended by WHO (FAO 1995), making sunflower oil superior to olive,
in which mono-unsaturated oleic acid predominates. This makes sunflower
oil very healthy for cardiovascular care (Chapter 6). Sunflower oil is also
rich in tocopherol (vitamin E) with antioxidant effects (Fernández Martínez
et al. 2004). Would these existing markets accept edible oil coming from a
transgenic crop?
The future of transgenic sunflower will be defined by a sharp
balance between its industrial use and changes in consumer perception.
Environmental risk mainly related to difficult-to-control novel sunflower feral
forms can be diminished, but not made eliminated. Nevertheless, risk does
not involve merely transgenic varieties, but extends to every new germplasm
obtained through classical breeding. Consumer perception would change

Table 9-6 Expected acceptance of sunflower transgenic varieties under present market
perception (based on Fernández Martínez et al. 2004; Fonseca et al. 2004 and Vannozzi
2006).

Destination Attributes GM Competitor Available GM

acceptance crop varieties

Biodiesel high oleic acid total palm no

canola yes

soybean yes

Bio-lubricants low linoleic acid total flax no

antioxidants canola yes

Edible oil saturated fatty parcial canola yes

Fried products acids

Edible oil Salads flavor, low olive no

unsaturated fatty corn yes

acids

Confectionary big and healthy none peanut no

achenes pistachio no