Sunflower seed protein content in relation to desiccation date and seed moisture

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of desiccation date and seed moisture content on sunflower seed protein content. The experimental materials were three new parental sunflower lines of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops from Novi Sad, Serbia (L1, L2 and L3). Reglone forte (2 l ha-1) was used for desiccation and it was applied at 7-day intervals from the end of flowering to harvest maturity. The protein content was determined by the classical method of Kjeldahl. The stabilization of the protein content was determined in treatment that was performed 21 days after flowering (DAF) at seed moisture of about 45%. Regression analysis determined the highest and statistically significant effect of seed moisture at the moment of desiccation on seed protein content in the line L1, while the effects in lines L2 and L3 were not significant.

Keywords

• desiccants
• moisture
• protein contents
• seed protein
• sunflower seed