Effect of planting date, plant population and genotype on oil content and fatty acid composition in sunflower.

Abstract

Grain oil content and fatty acid composition are very important traits in sunflower. A research was carried on in 2008 and 2009 to determine planting date and plant population effects on oil content and fatty acid composition, using three sunflower hybrids (Favorit, Performer, and Alex). The results revealed that oil content from sunflower seeds was very significantly affected by year, planting date, hybrids and plant populations, as well as by most interactions between these factors. Planting date was the main source of variance for oil content. The early planting date in both years led to an increase of grain oil content in all studied sunflower hybrids and on the average for all plant population. Plant populations had a smaller effect and this effect varied according to the weather conditions of the years and the hybrid. Hybrids had a large influence on oil content, the hybrid Favorit showing the highest oil concentration in most conditions. The delay in planting decreased concentration of the oleic acid and increased linoleic acid concentration in all sunflower hybrids, more obviously in drought conditions.