Abstract
Dietary phytosterols have a positive nutritional impact because they contribute to reduce cholesterol levels in blood. Accordingly, foods rich in phytosterols are required in a healthy diet. Vegetable oils are the richest source of phytosterols in the diet, though sunflower oil has lower phytosterol content than other seed oils such as rapeseed and corn. Increasing phytosterol content in sunflower oil requires optimizing first selection procedures. In this way, the development of accurate methods for analyzing phytosterol content in seeds instead of oils has opened up recently the way for large-scale screening for this trait. Large variability for seed phytosterol content has been identified in sunflower germplasm, from which we have developed a line, IASP-18, with about twofold seed phytosterol content than conventional sunflower. The trait is expressed across environments. Genetic studies are underway to characterize its inheritance and assess the feasibility of introgressing genes for high phytosterol content into elite sunflower germplasm.
Highlights
Phytosterols or plant sterols are steroid compounds with similar chemical structure to mammalian cholesterol, consisting of a tetracyclic cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene structure and an alkyl side chain with 8–10 carbons (Hartmann, 1998)
The above mentioned studies have emphasized the genetic potential for selecting for increased phytosterol content in sunflower, and the necessity of evaluating selected germplasm across a range of environments to minimize environmental effects
The accession with the highest phytosterol content had an average phytosterol content of 3682 mg kg−1 kernel compared to 2686 mg kg−1 kernel in the control, far from the highest values identified in the original germplasm collection that probably reflected strong environmental effects
Summary
Phytosterols or plant sterols are steroid compounds with similar chemical structure to mammalian cholesterol, consisting of a tetracyclic cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene structure and an alkyl side chain with 8–10 carbons (Hartmann, 1998). Fernández-Cuesta, et al (2012a) analyzed the phytosterol content of the seeds of 87 sunflower inbred lines and their extracted crude oils, in the latter case using conventional procedures. The results clearly supported the validity of analyzing phytosterols in seeds instead of oils for breeding research
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
