RESUMO
Several types of fungi [Rhizopus arrhizus, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus spp. and Botryodiplodia theobromae] were detected and found to infect sunflower heads [Meiak var.]. The infection affected the yield and characteristics of the oil. The quality of seeds was negatively affected by intense infection. Chemical analysis of seeds showed higher values of moisture and ash contents in the highly infected seeds. Yield of oil decreased by more than 16% in the severely infected samples which also showed higher contents of free fatty acids, higher peroxide values and lower iodine values. Gas chromatographic analysis showed that the concentration of total saturated fatty acids was significantly increased, while total unsaturated fatty acid considerably decreased with the progress of the infection