Variability in oil tocopherol concentration and composition of traditional and high oleic sunflower hybrids (Helianthus annuus L.) in the Pampean region (Argentina

Tocopherols are natural antioxidants that increase the stability of food fat and fulfill an important biological requirement in humans. There are no previous studies on the variability of tocopherol concentration and composition in the oil of sunflower traditional hybrids (TH) and high oleic sunflower hybrids (HOH) from different environments in Argentina. The objective of this work was to detect and examine that variability. Seed samples were obtained from i) seven TH grown in four locations (Experiment I) and, ii) five hybrids (three HOH and two traditional ones) grown in three locations (Experiment II). Concentrations of total tocopherol in oil ranged from 634 to 1054 μg g oil–1. α-tocopherol accounted for 90.8 to 97% of the total tocopherols. Total and α-tocopherol concentrations were highly genetically determined (more than 80%). In Experiment I, a significant, although low in value, interaction between hybrid and location was found for total and α-tocopherol concentrations. In Experiment II, mean values for total tocopherol concentration in HOH and in each environment were larger than in TH. Significant differences for total and α-tocopherol concentration were not found among HOH and environments. The variation of tocopherol concentration for each hybrid across environments was higher than the variation among hybrids in the same environment. To obtain oil with high tocopherol concentration, both hybrid and environment must be selected.