Half-seed analysis: rapid chromatographic determination of the main fatty acids of sunflower seed

The half seed technique, with some recent modifications of traditional analytic methods, is proposed for selecting sunflower with modified fatty acid composition. A rapid method was used for extracting the oil and for methylating fatty acids (about 3 min per sample). Thin layer chromatography (TLC) plates with activated AgNO3 and / or gas chromatography (GLC) with capillary columns was used to analyze the methylated esters. Half seed, whole seed and meal analysis of sunflower and other oilseed species confirmed the validity of the method with regard to sampling, analytic results and embryo terminability. In addition, GLC using a suitable internal standard can be used to evaluate the percentage oil content of seed. About ten sample per hour can be analysed with GLC versus 20-25 with TLC. These times can be further shortened in practice in the laboratory by partially overlapping some steps.