Sunflower seeds with high delta-tocopherol content

Abstract

The present invention relates to sunflower seeds which have been genetically modified through two artificial induction cycles of mutations followed in each case by processes for the identification of mutant individuals which have the desired character. The disclosed seeds are characterised in that they contain between 26% and 80% of the tocopherols as delta-tocopherol. This high delta-tocopherol production is determined by the genotype of the seeds which have been modified to this effect, and is always obtained independently of the culture conditions, thereby obtaining an inheritable character. Today, sunflower seeds producing such high levels of delta-tocopherol do not exist. Genetically modified sunflower plants which produce through self-fertilisation seeds with high delta-tocopherol levels and the oil with high natural delta-tocopherol concentration, extracted from the seeds, are also objectives of the present invention.

1 . Sunflower seeds with a high content of delta-tocopherol, wherein the content of delta-tocopherol is between 26% and 80% referred to total tocopherols. 
   
   
       2 . Sunflower seeds according to  claim 1 , further comprising between 0.5% and 45% of total tocopherols in the form of alpha-tocopherol; between 0% and 60% of total tocopherols in the form of beta-tocopherol; between 0% and 70% of total tocopherols in the form of gamma-tocopherol. 
   
   
       3 . Sunflower seeds according to  claims 1  or  2 , wherein the delta-tocopherol content is greater than 50% referred to total tocopherols in the seeds. 
   
   
       4 . Sunflower seeds according to  claim 3 , wherein the delta-tocopherol content is always greater than 65% referred to total tocopherols in the seeds. 
   
   
       5 . Sunflower seeds according to  claim 3 , wherein the delta-tocopherol content is always greater than 75% referred to total tocopherols in the seeds. 
   
   
       6 . Sunflower seeds according to  claim 1 , wherein the seeds, when submitted to an oil extraction process/produce an oil containing between 26% and 80% of delta-tocopherol. 
   
   
       7 . Sunflower seeds according to  claim 1 , wherein the seeds, when being self-fertilised, stably express the high delta-tocopherol content, independently of the environmental conditions. 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . Sunflower plants ( Helianthus annus L. ) which, when being self-fertilised, produce seeds displaying a high delta-tocopherol content as defined in  claim 1 .