Biophysical evaluation studies of some sunflower cultivars cultivated in fayoum

ABSTRACT

Some physiochemical properties of Meiak, French White, Striped and El-Kahira cultivars of sunflower oils grown in Fayoum were investigated. The weight of 1000 seeds, the hectoliter weight, kernel ratio, moisture content, ash content, crude oil, crude protein, crude fiber, refractive index at 25%, specific gravity at 25C, flow time at 30C, red color intensity, acidity, saponification value, iodine value, peroxide value, unsaponifiable matter% and thiobarbituric [TBA] value were determined. GLC technique was used for the identification of fatty acids and the unsaponifiable matter for such varieties. It was found that Meiak sunflower cultivar should be preferred for oil production; hence, it had the lowest moisture [3.57%] and highest oil percentage on dry basis [58.31%]. Moreover, its meal had a high protein content [29.27%]. However, as for oil stability it was found that French and Meiak attained the highest stability, being 13.00 and 12.00 hour at 100 degree, respectively