Tough Sunflower Lines Produce High Oleic Oil

Here is a bit of good news for sunflower breeders and growers. The United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station (NDAES) have released three new sunflower lines that have built-in resistance to downy mildew and which produce oil rich in oleic acid.

In repeated field and greenhouse tests at NDAES in Fargo, all three lines resisted the most virulent races of downy mildew fungus found in North America. Two of the lines also withstood a French race not yet found in America. On the average, oil extracted from the three sunflower lines was found to be more than 85% in oleic acid.

These sunflower lines will prove to be invaluable because the fungus which causes downy mildew has become resistant to common fungicides such as metalaxyl. In addition, high levels of oleic fatty acid imparts desirable flavor, frying characteristics and other traits to sunflower oil, which makes it more attractive to consumers.

To read the complete article, visit http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070803.htm.