Abstract: The invention relates to a sunflower seed, comprising sunflower oil having increased stearic acid content as compared to wild type seeds (preferably between 19.1 and 35% by weight related to the total amount of fatty acids in the oil and comprising in the oil at least 3.4% of the triacylglycerol species that have the general formula SMS and not more than 5-0% of triacylglycerol species that have the general formula SMM obtainable by treating parent seeds with a mutagenic agent during a period of time and in a concentration sufficient to induce one or more mutations in the genetic trait involved in stearic acid biosynthesis resulting in increased production of stearic acid, germinating the treated seeds and culturing progeny plants therefrom, collecting and analyzing progeny seeds, selecting seeds that have acquired the desirable genetic traits and optionally repeating the cycle of germination, culturing and collection of seeds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sunflower seed, comprising a sunflower oil having an increased stearic acid content as compared to wild type seeds, obtainable by treating parent seeds with a mutagenic agent during a period of time and in a concentration sufficient to induce one or more mutations in the genetic trait involved in stearic acid biosynthesis resulting in an increased production of stearic acid, germinating the treated seeds and culturing progeny plants therefrom, collecting and analyzing progeny seeds, selecting seeds that have acquired the desirable genetic trait and optionally repeating the cycle of germination, culturing and collection of seeds. Preferably the seeds comprise an oil having a stearic acid content of between 19.1 and 35% by weight related to the total amount of fatty acids in the oil, and are obtainable by treating the parent seeds with an alkylating agent, such as ethyl methane sulfonate in water, or with sodium azide in water.

Abstract: Sunflower seeds having an oleic acid content of more than 5% and less than 65%, a palmitic acid content of more than 20% and less than 40%, a stearic acid content of more than 3% and less than 15%, and a palmitoleic acid content less than 4%, all based on the total fatty acid weight, are disclosed, together with methods of obtaining the sunflower seeds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sunflower seed, comprising sunflower oil having increased stearic acid content as compared to wild type seeds preferably between 19.1 and 35% by weight related to the total amount of fatty acids in the oil, obtainable by treating parent seeds with a mutagenic agent during a period of time and in a concentration sufficient to induce one or more mutations in the genetic trait involved in stearic acid biosynthesis resulting in increased production of stearic acid, germinating the treated seeds and culturing progeny plants therefrom, collecting and analyzing progeny seeds, selecting seeds that have acquired the desirable genetic trait and optionally repeating the cycle of germination, culturing and collection of seeds. The invention further relates to oil extracted from the seeds, to a method for preparing the sunflower seeds, a method for preparing such sunflower oil, sunflower plants produced from the seeds and use of the oil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sunflower seed, comprising a sunflower oil having an increased stearic acid content as compared to wild type seeds, obtainable by treating parent seeds with a mutagenic agent during a period of time and in a conceatration sufficient to induce one or more mutations in the genetic trait involved in stearic acid biosynthesis resulting in an incresed production of stearic acid, germinating the treated seeds and culturing progeny plants therefrom, collecting and analyzing progeny seeds, selecting seeds that have acquired the desirable genetic trait and optionally repeating the cycle of germination, culturing and collection of seeds. Preferably the seeds comprise an oil having a stearic acid content of between 19.1 and 35% by weight related to the total amount of fatty acids in the oil, and are obtainable by treating the parent seeds with an alkylating agent, such as ethyl methane sulfonate in water, or with sodium azide in water.

Abstract: Sun flower plants that produce seeds with an extractable oil having an oleic acid content of more than 40% by weight and a stearic acid content of more than 12% by weight are disclosed, together with products containing the oil and methods for selecting plants containing the oil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vegetable oil which is or can be extracted from seeds and in which at least 12% of the triacylglycerol species that constitute the oil have the general formula SMS and at least 25% of the triacylglycerol species have the general formula SMM, wherein the formula gives from left to right the first, second and third fatty acid in the triacylglycerol and S represents a saturated fatty acid and M represents a monoenoic fatty acid. The invention further relates to a meal obtained as the remainder of the process for extracting the oil from seeds, as well as to the seeds containing the oil and the use thereof for the production of progeny plants having seeds which contain the oil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sunflower seed, comprising a sunflower oil having an increased stearic acid content as compared to wild type seeds, obtainable by treating parent seeds with a mutagenic agent during a period of time and in a concentration sufficient to induce one or more mutations in the genetic trait involved in stearic acid biosynthesis resulting in an increased production of stearic acid, germinating the treated seeds and culturing progeny plants therefrom, collecting and analyzing progeny seeds, selecting seeds that have acquired the desirable genetic trait and optionally repeating the cycle of germination, culturing and collection of seeds. Preferably the seeds comprise an oil having a stearic acid content of between 19.1 and 35% by weight related to the total amount of fatty acids in the oil, and are obtainable by treating the parent seeds with an alkylating agent, such as ethyl methane sulfonate in water, or with sodium azide in water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic and non-transgenic plants that produce oil having high levels of saturated fatty acids and medium to high levels of olecic acid. More specifially, the invention relates to a sunflower plant, seed, and the extractable oil having increased stearic acid content and increased oleic acid content relative to the normal sunflower oil level of stearic acid and oleic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to plant seeds that contain an oil having an oleic acid content of more than 5% and less than 65% by weight based upon the total fatty acid content, a linoleic acid content of more than 1% and less than 65% by weight based upon the total fatty acid content, a palmitic acid content of more than 20% and less than 40% by weight based upon the total fatty acid content, a stearic acid content of more than 3% and less than 15% based upon the total fatty acid content, and wherein the palmitoleic acid content is less than 4% based upon the total fatty acid content, and the asclepic acid content is less than 4% based upon the total fatty acid content. The invention further relates to the oil that can be obtained from the seeds, the use of that oil and to plants grown from the seeds or producing the seeds.