New sunflower and soybean cultivars for novel vegetable oil types

Abstract

Commercial production of sunflower and soybean cultivars with altered fatty acid profiles compared to today's commodity oils has been initiated. Sunflower hybrids with oleic contents up to 90% and soybean varieties with less than 4% palmitic acid or less than 3.5% linolenic acid have been developed using mutation breeding. These new oil profiles are available in elite seed products with agronomic performance comparable to that of seeds used for commodity production. These new oil variants have been made without effecting nonacylglycerol components such as tocopherols or phytosterols. Thus, the twofold variation in these minor constituents of oil. that exist in different genotypes of the three major oilseeds, might be exploited to add greater value to novel oils being developed for the oils industry. Genetic variants in fatty acid profile or minor oil constituents. whether developed through mutation breeding or through gene transfer, are providing building blocks to develop an array of new oils for industry. The challenge - and opportunity - is for the oils industry to work with genetic companies in order to create valuable new renewable raw materials that meet the needs of consumers and the general public.