SUNFLOWER SEEDS WITH HIGH DELTA-TOCOPHEROL CONTENT

摘要

The present invention relates to sunflower seeds which have been genetically modified through two artificial induction cycles of mutations followed in ea ch case by processes for the identification of mutant individuals which have th e desired character. The disclosed seeds are characterized in that they contai n between 26 % and 80 % of the tocopherols as delta-tocopherol. This high delt a- 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-fertilizati on seeds with high delta-tocopherol levels and the oil with high natural delta- tocopherol concentration, extracted from the seeds, are also objectives of t he present invention.