Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (Nirs) for Quality Assurance in Breeding, Cultivation and Marketing of High-Oleic Sunflowers

Abstract

Reliable analytical methods are necessary in order to determine different quality parameters of sunflowers achenes and to realize their optimum utilization in food and non-food industries. For this aim, different near-infrared methods have been developed for ground and intact high-oleic sunflower achenes. These methods determine simultaneously the important quality parameters like oil and protein content and the composition of fatty acids. The methods are adequately exact and more time- and cost-saving than the conventional reference analysis. In addition to further optimization of the NIRS methods, transfer of the calibration-equations will be worked out. This will lead to a better utility for all those concerned with cultivation, marketing and breeding of sunflowers. © 2006, by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston. All rights reserved.