Influence of salt stress on oil fatty acid composition of two sunflower hybrids

Salinity is the major environmental stress limiting crop growth and yield. Sunflower is considered moderately tolerant to salt stress. Nevertheless, its oil quality may be affected by salt stress. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the changes in oil fatty composition, due to salinity, in a standard and a high oleic hybrid. The trial was conducted at University of Foggia in a naturally-lit polycarbonate greenhouse. A high oleic sunflower hybrid, Tenor, and a standard one, Carlos, were grown in pots under five water salinity treatments: 0.6 (control: tap water), 3, 6, 9 and 12 dS m-1. Fatty acid composition, determined by using gas-chromatography, was evaluated. All data were analyzed using ANOVA and then principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. Oleic and linoleic acids, together accounting for 88% of total fatty acids, showed respectively a progressive increase and decrease on increasing salt stress both in Carlos and in Tenor. This result is particularly interesting for possible improvements in food oil quality of sunflower cultivated under saline water irrigation