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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower and Plant Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #145958
Title: INHERITANCE OF THE REDUCED SATURATED FATTY ACID TRAIT IN SUNFLOWER SEED

Author
item Vick, Brady
item Jan, Chao-Chien
item Miller, Jerry

Submitted to: Proceedings Sunflower Research Workshop
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2003
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: RS1 and RS2 are two sunflower genetic stocks that are reduced in saturated fatty acids in the seed oil. They were derived from USDA-ARS PI 250542 through selection for low palmitic and stearic acids, by crossing the selections with HA 89, and by continuously selecting for several more generations. In this study, the inheritance of the reduced saturated fatty acids was investigated. The results showed that the inheritance patterns differed slightly for RS1 and RS2, and that there was a strong influence by the female parent on stearic acid content. We concluded that it is possible to use RS1 or RS2 to achieve a significant reduction in saturated fatty acids in sunflower oil, but that the low saturated fatty acid trait must be incorporated into both parents of a hybrid to achieve the maximum reduction in saturated fatty acids in the F2 generation, which is the generation harvested by the producer for sale to commercial oil processors.

Technical Abstract: RS1 and RS2 are two sunflower genetic stocks that are reduced in saturated fatty acids in the seed oil. They were derived from USDA-ARS PI 250542 through selection for low palmitic and stearic acids, by crossing the selections with HA 89, and by continuously selecting for several more generations. In this study, the inheritance of the reduced saturated fatty acids was investigated by crossing RS1 or RS2 with HA 382, a traditional sunflower inbred line with normal palmitic and stearic acid concentrations in the oil. For RS1, the low palmitic acid trait was additive, with the F1 plants showing a palmitic acid level intermediate between the two parents. In contrast, for RS2 the reduced palmitic acid trait was dominant in the F1 progeny. Studies on the reduced stearic acid trait showed that its inheritance differed from palmitic acid. In both RS1 and RS2, there was a strong maternal influence on the stearic acid content of the F1 generation. For the F2 generation, all crosses of RS1 or RS2 with HA 382 resulted in segregation of palmitic and stearic acid concentrations that were intermediate between the two parents. The results suggested that the low saturated fatty acid trait must be incorporated into both parents to achieve the maximum reduction in saturated fatty acids in the F2 generation, which is the generation harvested by the producer for sale to commercial oil processors.