The object of study were 8 divergent sunflower inbred lines and 15 F1 hybrids, which were analyzed for mode of inheritance, gene effects, combining ability and components of genetic variance for oleic and linoleic acid content. Mode of inheritance was estimated on the basis of a test of significance of mean values of F1 hybrids in relation to the parents' mean (Borojević, 1965). Combining ability was determined by the method line × tester (Singh and Choud hary, 1976). The inheritance of oleic and linoleic acid contents varied in the F1 generation. Dominance, partial dominance, intermediacy and heterosis were found. The inbred lines HA-22 and RHA-N-K exhibited highly significant positive GCA values for the content of oleic acid, the lines HA-74 and RHA-C-B for the content of linoleic acid. The inbred lines HA-22 and RHA-C-B exhibited highly significant negative GCA values for the content of oleic acid, the line RHA-N-K for the content of linoleic acid. All F1 hybrids exhibited non-signifi cant specific combining ability (SCA) for the two characteristics. Prevalence of additive gene action was observed in the control of inherit ance of oleic acid content. The non-additive component, i.e., dominance and epistasis, prevailed in the control of inheritance of linoleic acid content.