Research article    |    Open Access
Helia 2004, Vol. 27(40) 107-112

EVALUATION OF WILD SUNFLOWER SPECIES FOR TOCOPHEROL CONTENT AND COMPOSITION

L. Velasco, B. Pérez-Vich, & J.M. Fernández-Martínez

pp. 107 - 112

Publish Date: June 01, 2004  |   Single/Total View: 1/1   |   Single/Total Download: 1/1


Abstract

Wild Helianthus species are an important reservoir of useful genes for sunflower breeding. The objective of the present research was to evaluate the existing variability for tocopherol content and composition in a germplasm collection of wild sunflower species. The germplasm evaluated consisted of 257 accessions from 36 Helianthus species, including both annual and perennial species. Eight seeds per accession were randomly picked and bulked for tocopherol analysis conducted by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Tocopherol content averaged 328 mg kg-1 seed in the analyzed accessions, with an average profile of 99.0% alpha-tocopherol, 0.7% beta-tocopherol, and 0.3% gamma tocopherol. In cultivated material, an average tocopherol content of 669.1 mg kg-1 seed have been reported, made up of 92.4% alpha-tocopherol, 5.6% beta tocopherol, and 2.0% gamma-tocopherol. The maximum total tocopherol con tent in wild sunflower germplasm corresponded to an accession of H. maximilianii, with 673 mg kg-1 seed. Increased levels of beta-tocopherol were identified in one accession of H. praecox (11.2% of the total tocopherols) and one acces sion of H. debilis (11.8%). All other accessions contained less than 6.5% beta tocopherol. Increased gamma-tocopherol levels were identified in one accession of H. exilis (7.4%) and two accessions of H. nutalii (11.0% and 14.6%, respectively). All other accessions contained less than 2% gamma-tocopherol. Although further research at an intrapopulation level is needed to confirm and isolate variants, the results of the present research indicated that wild Helianthus germplasm contains useful variability for tocopherol content and composition.

Keywords: genetic diversity, germplasm evaluation, Helianthus spp., tocopherols, wild species, variability


How to Cite this Article?

APA 7th edition
Velasco, L., Pérez-Vich, B., & Fernández-Martínez, J. (2004).

EVALUATION OF WILD SUNFLOWER SPECIES FOR TOCOPHEROL CONTENT AND COMPOSITION

. Helia, 27(40), 107-112.

Harvard
Velasco, L., Pérez-Vich, B. and Fernández-Martínez, J. (2004).

EVALUATION OF WILD SUNFLOWER SPECIES FOR TOCOPHEROL CONTENT AND COMPOSITION

. Helia, 27(40), pp. 107-112.

Chicago 16th edition
Velasco, L., B. Pérez-Vich and J.M. Fernández-Martínez (2004). "

EVALUATION OF WILD SUNFLOWER SPECIES FOR TOCOPHEROL CONTENT AND COMPOSITION

". Helia 27 (40):107-112.