  Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grain and oil quality are defined by grain
weight and oil percentage, oil fatty acid composition and the amount of
antioxidants. The aim of this work was to establish and validate a simple
model, based on published relationships, which can estimate not only yield and
its components, but also grain and oil quality aspects which are of relevance
for industrial processes or human health. The model we developed provided good
estimations of grain yield (similar to those of a more complex model) and oil
quality from independent experiments. It explained known differences in
potential yield and grain and oil quality between locations, in terms of
differences in incident radiation, mean or minimum temperature. Simulations
showed that recent climatic changes could have caused a decrease in sunflower
yield and changes in oil quality. Our results suggest that at locations at
lower latitudes, sunflower oil with high nutritious value and oxidative
stability could compensate for relatively low yields, while at higher
latitudes, high-linoleic acid oil production should be compatible with high
yield potentials. Our model could facilitate the selection of the best
location, sowing date or density for the production of sunflower oil with
specific quality characteristics.
