MXPA06005432A - Sunflower oil, seeds and plants with modified fatty acid distribution in the triacylglycerol molecule - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sunflower oil directly obtained from sunflower seeds with at least 12%of stearic acid referred to the total fatty acid content, characterized in that the distribution coefficient of saturated fatty acids alpha between positionssn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.38 and to a sunflower oil directly obtained from sunflower seeds with at least 12%of stearic acid referred to the total fatty acid content, characterized in that the distribution coefficient of saturated fatty acids alpha between positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.28 when the oleic acid content is higher than the linoleic acid content in the oil. The invention also relates to the plants and seeds for producing the oil and to its use.

Description

SUNFLOWER, SEED AND PLANT OIL WITH MODIFIED DISTRIBUTION OF FATTY ACIDS IN THE TRIACILGLYCEROL MOLECULE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The objective of the present invention is a sunflower oil directly obtained from sunflower seeds with at least 12% stearic acid referred to the total fatty acid content, and with a modified fatty acid distribution between the sn positions -1 and sn-3 of the triacylglycerol molecule (TAG), in comparison to the oil obtained from the wild type sunflower seeds. The invention also relates to a sunflower plant and seeds containing an endogenous oil with the aforementioned characteristics. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for producing the sunflower plants and the uses of sunflower oil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Oil and fats are elaborated mainly from triglycerides, these molecules are formed by a main chain of glycerol and three fatty acids esterified to the three hydroxyl groups of glycerol (Gunstone et al., 1994). The chemical and physical properties, and also the nutritional properties of the oils are determined by the fatty acid composition of the Ref .: 172648 oils, and the distribution of these fatty acids in the different triglyceride species. The three stereochemical fatty acid positions are called sn-1, sn-2 and sn-3. The fact that an oil is solid at a specific temperature or has a good stability is correlated with a reduced level of double bonds in the fatty acids. The main fatty acids found in sunflower seeds are linoleic acid (18: 2) with 18 carbon atoms and two double bonds and oleic acid (18: 1) with only one double bond, making these liquid oils at room temperature . Some oils, such as soybean and canola, also have linoleic acid (18: 3) with 18 carbon atoms and 3 double bonds. These fatty acids are unsaturated, because they have one or more double bonds. Vegetable oils also have lower amounts of saturated fatty acids, without any double bonds, such as palmitic acid having 16 carbon atoms (16: 0), stearic acid with 18 carbon atoms (18: 0), arachidonic acid with 20 carbon atoms (20: 0) and behenic acid (22:00) with 22 carbon atoms. Unsaturated fatty acids are beneficial for health and saturated fatty acids, neutral or unhealthy, depending on the fatty acid and the position in the triglyceride molecule. On the one hand, some tropical vegetable oils and animal fats have short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids, such as 12-carbon (12: 0) lauric acid and myristic acid, a saturated fatty acid with 14 carbon atoms ( 14: 0), the latter being the worst for health. Palmitic acid and stearic acid are the usual saturated fatty acids found in vegetable oils used (table 1). Palmitic acid is considered a little bad for health, and stearic acid is neutral acid. However, it is very important to consider a second property that depends on the position of the fatty acids in the triglyceride molecule. A long-chain, saturated fatty acid is less harmful if it is not bound to the intermediate (sn-2) position of the glycerol. During the digestion of fats, the pancreatic lipase hydrolyzes the fatty acids found in positions sn-1 and sn-3 of glycerol. While the fatty acid in the intermediate position is kept bound to the glycerol forming a monoglyceride that has detergent properties, and is assimilated perfectly, the fatty acids released from the sn-1 and sn-3 positions react with calcium or magnesium, producing the insoluble salt with these metals, making intestinal adsorption very difficult. As a result of the same, they are excreted. As shown in Table 1, all vegetable oil fatty acids, with the exception of palm oil, are not placed in the n-2 position, for this reason they do not adversely affect the level of cholesterol, although these They have a high palmitic content such as cocoa butter or palmitic medium, such as olive oil.

Table 1 Fatty acids and edible oils fatty acid composition (Álvarez-ortega et al., 1997; Chow 1992; Gunstone et al., 1994).

For many food preparations, the food industry needs plastic or solid fats (such as animal fats), with good stability.

The bakery, the confectionery and of course, the margarine and spreads, require solid fat, while the deep frying industry wishes to make the liquid resistant to thermo-oxidation. In the eighties, the food industry, following recommendations from nutrition experts and consumer demands, switched from animal fats to vegetable oils. These oils do not have the proper properties to be used in these food preparations; these must be chemically modified through partial hydrogenation and / or trans-esterification. Hydrogenation reduces the double bonds of the unsaturated fatty acids with hydrogen, and a heavy metal as a catalyst. During this process the saturated fatty acids increase, but at the same time the number of cis and trans isomers of artificial fatty acids increases. The trans isomers, although these are unsaturated fatty acids, have physical properties similar to saturated fatty acids. The main problem with these acids is that they are even worse than the animal saturated fatty acids, with respect to cholesterol levels, and these are involved in some deficiencies of essential fatty acids or in certain cancers, such as breast cancer in women . The chemical trans-esterification leads to a redistribution of all the fatty acids within the triglyceride molecules; subsequently, it can be obtained by fractionation, a portion enriched in saturated triglycerides. Through this process, a healthy vegetable oil is converted to an unhealthy fat, such as bait, with a large amount of saturated fatty acids in the sn-2 position. This oil will increase low density (bad) cholesterol. In conclusion, the processes used to chemically modify vegetable oils are not particularly healthy, changing the properties of these oils in such a way that the new oils are less healthy. Taking into account the technological and nutritional data, the best oil should be a natural vegetable oil with an increased content of stearic acid with saturated fatty acid, preferably linked to the main chain of glycerol through positions sn-1 and sn-3 , and the oleic or linoleic acids as unsaturated fatty acids which are linked to the three positions sn. Several mutant lines of fatty acid sunflower were selected and fixed after a mutagenesis program (Osorio et al, 1995). Some of these mutants have a high content of saturated fatty acids in the seed oil: CAS-3 with at least 26% stearic acid; CAS-4 and CAS-8 with at least average levels of stearic acid (12-16%). This material and others such as CAS-29, 30 and 31, selected after biochemical studies and additional recombination, make a broad collection of germ plasm (table 2).

Table 2. Fatty acid composition of the sunflower material selected from the sunflower collection of Instituto de la Grasa, CSIC, Seville, Spain.

The genetic characterization of the mutants has shown that the inheritance of the altered levels of fatty acids is gametophytic and controlled by alleles at a reduced number of loci, making it feasible to transfer them to target inbred lines in few crossing cycles. The study of the temporal and spatial expression of these mutant characters showed that the mutant characters are expressed only during the formation of the seeds, are little influenced by the growth temperature and are not expressed in the vegetative tissues. These sunflower mutant lines do not have any negative side effects with some found in the mutants of high stearic acid content of arabidopsis and canola. Vegetable triglycerides produced by the glycerol 3-P pathway (Kennedy route). Initially (figure 1), 3 oscillations of glycerol 3-phosphate occur in positions sn-1 and sn-2 with esters of acyl-CoA, producing phosphatidate by enzymes and glycerol-3-phosphate-acyltransferase (GPAT) and lysophosphatidate-acyltransferase (LPAAT ), respectively. The phosphatidate is then hydrolyzed to the diglyceride by the phosphatidate phosphohydrolase and, subsequently, the diglyceride can additionally be acylated by the acyl-CoA to produce triglyceride (a reaction catalyzed by the diglyceride acyltransferase, DAGAT). The last enzyme is exclusive for triglyceride biosynthesis. Those acyltransferases regulate the stereochemical distribution of fatty acid. During the analysis of the triglyceride composition of the sunflower mutant, 38 different molecular species were found (Fernández-Moya et al., 2000). But unexpectedly, triglycerides synthesized by lines with high stearic acid content (high stearic) do not have a random distribution at positions sn-1 and sn-3 as is expected by the theory of Vander al (1960) that supposedly was established for all agents. The enzymes responsible for this unusual distribution are the acyltransferases that synthesized the triglycerides from the combination of acyl-CoA and glycerol-3-P. Taking into account that in plant systems, the synthesis of triglycerides implies that no saturated fatty acid will be bound to the sn-2 and glycerol position (Alvarez-Ortega et al.; 1997), the specific enzymes responsible for this effect must be glycerol-3P acyltransferase and / or diglyceride acyltransferase. In the search that led to the invention, a mathematical coefficient, alpha S (aS), has been developed, which calculates the relative distribution of saturated fatty acid in positions sn-1 and sn-3 of TAG. The value of aS from 0, which means one of the positions without any saturated fatty acid, at 0.5, both positions having the same content of saturated fatty acid. If a triglyceride distribution is made according to the Vander Wal theory, then a = 0.5 and the different fatty acids are evenly distributed in the triglyceride. This is very important in the case of the distribution of saturated fatty acids between positions sn-1 and sn-3, because if there are more saturated fatty acids in one of these positions, a is smaller than 0.5 and the amount of Disaturated triglycerides is lower than what is theoretically expected. This is exactly what the inventors found in sunflower oils mainly in those with stearic acid content greater than 12%. The maximum amount of disaturated triglycerides, which are advantageous for making plastic fats for spreads, margarines, friable fats (charteri), for bakery, pastry, etc., is obtained when a = 0.5, the smaller this value of a in the distribution of saturated fatty acid, in the sn-1 and sn-3 position of the triglyceride molecule, put this oil for these specific food purposes. Thus, for particular uses, the mutant sunflowers having an advantageous relative distribution of saturated fatty acid at the sn-1 and sn-3 positions of TAG, can be selected based on the calculation of the a value. This coefficient was calculated by knowing the total fatty acid composition of the triglyceride (S), the saturated fatty acid composition in sn-2 (S2), which can be calculated according to Álvarez-Ortega et al. (1997), and the molecular species composition of the triglyceride, which can be calculated according to Fernández-Moya et al. (2000).

Table 3. Percentage of saturated and unsaturated fatty acid in each TAG position (Si, S2 and S3) as a function of S, S2 and aS: The total content of saturated fatty acid; S2: the content of the saturated fatty acid is sn-2; a: distribution coefficient of the saturated fatty acid at the sn-1 and sn-3 positions.

Saturated TAG positions (3s-s2) to Os-s.) aa) (sx) to (s3) Unsaturated? oo- [(3s-s2)]? oo-s2? oo- [(3s-sa) (? -a)] (ü) (J) (Uz) (p? The percentages of the different subclasses of TAG (trisaturated, SSS, disaturated, SUS, monosaturated, SUÜ, and triunsaturated, ÜÜU) are usually calculated using the following formulas: SSS (%) = SjSaSs / lOOOO (i) SUS (%) = (U ^ Sa + S ^ Sa + S ^ UaJ / lOOOO (Ü) SUU (%) = (SiUaUa + UÍS2Ü3 + U1U2S3) / 1000 (iii) UUU (%) = U-U2U3 / l0000 (iv) Using the given values for Sx, S2, S3, Ui, U2 and U3 in Table 3, the value for the distribution coefficient can be calculated by the following reasoning in different TAGs. a) From the trisaturated TAG species (SSS): SSS (%) = S? S2S3 / 10000 (i) Substituting the values for Si, S2 and S3 of table 3, we obtain: 5 s ^ Sa = r_ (2s-s2) a] x s2 x eos - s2) (i -] = (3So¿ - s2a)? s2? (3S - 3s - s2 - s2a) = 3SS2a - s22a) x (3S - 3s - s2) - s2a) = 9S2s2a - 9s2s2a2 - 3ss22a + 3ss22a2 - 3ss22c. + 3SS22o¿2 + s23a -s23a2 = (-9S2S2 + 6SS22 - S23) 2 + (9S2S2 - 6SS22 + S23) 0 £ (v) 0 Rearranging in (i), .- "S-XS-2S3 - 10L? J0J0SSS_j (%) = .0 Substituting for the value S? S2S3 from equation (v), (-9S2S2 + 6SS22 - S23) 0.2 + (9S2S2 - 6SS22 + S23) CÍ - 10000SSS (%) »0 -j + i) -4ac - b, i? - 4ac n c, a2 - 4ac a- - = ± ~ = 0.5 ± D 2a 2a 2a 2a Value a is calculated as a quadratic equation (ax2 + bx + c = 0) that can be simplified because a = -b _ Where_a _ = _ 9S2S2 + 6SS22 - s b = 9? 2S2 - 6SS22 - S23 and c = 0 10000SSS (%), SSS (%) which is the total amount of unsaturated TAGs in the seed / oil. b) From the unsaturated species of TAG (SUS): SUS (%) = U? S2S3 + S? U2S3 + S? S2U3) / 10000 (ii) Substituting the values for Si, S2 S3, üi, U2 of the Table 3, 5 is obtained: Ü-S2S3 =. { 100 - [3S-S2) a]} X S2X [(3S-S2) (1-Oi)] = 300SS2-300SS2C. - 100S22 + 100S22a- 9S2S20í + 9S2S2a2 + 3SS22OÍ - 3SS22C¿2 + 3SS220Í - 3SS220 £ 2 - S230. + S230í2 (vi) S? U2s3 = (3S - s2) a x (loo - s2) x [(3S - s2) (i - a)] = 900S2 - 300ss2a - 9s2s2a + 3ss22 - 900S2a2 + 300ss2a2 + 9s2s2a2 - 3SS22a2 - 3 ?? ss2a +? Oos22a + 3ss22 - s23 + 3? ss2oí2 -? oos22a2 - 3SS22OÍ2 + s23 2 (vii) 3s2ts3 = [(3S - sa) a] x s2 x. { loo - [Os - s2) (i - a)]} = 3? Oss2a - 9S2s2o: + 9S2s2a2 + 3ss22c. - 3ss22a2 -? Oos22oc + 3ss22 - 3ss22a2 - s23 + s23 2 (viii) Reaco odando in (ii), (UXS2S3 + S? U2S3 + S? S2U3) - 10000SUS (%) = 0 Substituting for the values U? S2S3, S? U2S3 and S? S2U3 from equations (vi), (vii) and (viii) respectively, and grouping the function of a: < 600SS2 - 18SS22 + 27S2S2 - 900S2 - 100S22 + 3S23) Cía + (-600SS2 + 18SSaJ - 27S2S3 + 9O0S2 + 100S22 - 3Sa3) a + 300SS2 - 100Sa2 - 10000SÜS (%) = 0 The value a is calculated as a quadratic equation that can be simplified because a = -b.

Where a = 600SS2 - 18SS22 + 27S2S2 - 900S2 - 100S22 + 3S23 and c = 300SS2 - 100S22 - 10000SUS (%), SUS (%) which is the total amount of unsaturated TAGs in the seed / oil. c) From the ono-unsaturated TAG species (SUU): SUU (%) = (S? U2U3 + U? S2? 3 + U? U2S3) / 10000 (iii) Substituting the values for Si, S2, S3, üi, U2 and U3 of table 3, there is obtained: s? U2U3 -30000SOI-900S2O2 + 900S20? 2 + 300SS2OI-300SS2O £ 2 -? oooos2a + 300ss2-3? oss2c.2 -? oos22a +? oos22a2-3? oss2o. + 9S2S2a - 9S2S2CÍ2 - 3SS23C. + 3SS2 0Í2 + 100S22O. - 3SS220. + 3SS220.2 + S23CÉ - s23a2 (ix) UISJUS = 10000S2 - 300SS2 + 300SS2a + 100S22 -? Oos22a - 300SS2OÉ + 9S2S20. - 9S2S2CÉ2 - 3SS22a + 3SS22C.2 +? Oos22a - 3SS22OÍ + 3ss22a2 + s23c¿ - s23a2 (x) UiU ^ = 30000S - 10000S2 - 30000SC. + 10000S2Q! - 300SS2 +? Oos22 + 3? Oss2o £ - IO OS22OÍ - 900S2a + 3? Oss2 + 9? Os2a2 - 300SS2C.2 + 9S2S2C? - 3SS22C. - 9S2S20i2 + 3SS22C-2 + 300SS2O £ -? Oos22a - 300ss2c? 2 +? Oos22a2 - 3ss22o. + s23a + 3SS22a2 - s23a2 (Xi) Rearranging in (iii), (SXU2U3 + U? S2U3 + UXU2S3) - 10000SUU (%) = o Substituting for the values S? U2U3, U? S2U3 and U? Ü2S3 from equations (ix), (x) and (xi) respectively, and grouping the function of a: (-1200SS2 + 18SS22 - 27S2S2 + 1800S2 + 200S22 - 3S23) 0-2 + (1200SS2 - 18SS22 + 27S2S2 - 1800S2 - 200S22 + 3S23) 0Í - 600SS2 + 2 00S22 + 30000S - 10000SUÜ (%) = 0 The value a is calculated as a quadratic equation that can be simplified because a = -b. £, __ - Jb ± V- - 4a c _. -b ± 4b2 - 4ac _ Q.5 ± 4a2 - 4ac 2a 2a 2a 2a 2a Where a = 1200SS2 - 18SS22 + 27S2S2 - 1800S2 - 200S22 + 3S23 and c = 600SS2 - 200S22 - 30000S - 10000SUU (%), which is the total amount of monosaturated TAGs in the seed / oil. d) From the tri-unsaturated TAG species: UUU (%) = U? U2U3 / 10000 (iv) Substituting the values for Ui, U2 and U3 of table 3, we obtain: UxUjUa = (600SS2 - 6SS22 + 9S2S2 - 900S2 - 100S22 + S23) O2 + (-600SS2 + 6SS23 - 9S2S2 + 900S2 + 100S22 - S23) C £ + 300SS2 - 100S22 - 30000S + 1000000 (xii) Rearranging in (iv): U? U2U3 ~ 10000UUU (%) = 0 Substituting for the values U? U2U3 from the equation (xii), and grouping the function of a: (600SS2 - 6SS22 + 9S2S2 - 9O0S2 - 100S22 + S23) 0 £ 2 + (-600SS2 + 6SS22 - 9S2S2 + 900S2 + 10OS23 - S23) C. + 300SS2 - 100S22 - 30000S + 1000000 - 10000UUU (%) = 0 The value a is calculated as a quadratic equation that can be simplified because a = -b. -b ± 4b2-4ac -b -Jb2 - 4ac 4a2 - 4ac a = = ^ ~ - ± '= 0.5+ 2a 2a 2a 2a Where a = 600SS2 - 6SS22 + 9S2S2 - 900S2 - 100S22 + S23 and c = 300SS2 - 100S22 - 30000S + 1000000 - 10000UUU (%), UUU (%) is the total amount of triunsaturated TAGs in the seed / oil. To avoid deviations due to experimental errors in the GLC determination of the TAG species, aS is defined as the weighted average of the alpha values calculated from SSS (aSSS), from SUS (aSUS), from SUU (aSUU) and from UUU (aUUU). cSSS x SSS (%) + (SUSx SUS (%)) + (SUU x SUU (%)) + (UUUx UUU (%)) S ~ (SSS (%) + SUS (%) + SUU (%) + UUU (%)) In a random distribution of the saturated fatty acid between the sn-1 and sn-3 positions of the triglyceride molecule, 50% of each saturated fatty acid must be in each position, the optimal being having the maximum number of molecules of SUS triglycerides, where S is a saturated fatty acid and U is an unsaturated fatty acid, respectively. Figure 2 shows the proportion of the different TAG species in sunflower oil with the saturated fatty acid content increasing if a random distribution occurs between sn-1 and sn-3. These curves have been generated substituting for 0.5, using the saturated fatty acid content of sunflower in position sn-2 (Álvarez-Ortega et al., 1997) and increasing the values for the total content of saturated fatty acid in the formulas (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv). The a-coefficient of an oil can also be calculated by chemically analyzing the fatty acid composition of the three sn positions of the TAG molecule. This analysis can be done following the methods proposed by Laa so and Christie (1990) or Takagi and Ando (1991). These methods make it possible to know the fatty acid content of the three sn positions but they need a large sample size and can not be applied to a small sample, such as a half seed in the present study. In this case, the formula is as follows, aS which is the smallest of these two values, except when both are 0.5. In this case, a = 0.5 The inventors have studied this distribution in TAG in effective sunflower seed. The data show, as expected, that the saturated fatty acids (S) are located mainly in the sn-1 and sn-3 positions of the glycerol molecule in normal and high saturated sunflower oils and in a very low amount in sn-2. The average fatty acids in this position are oleic and linoleic acids as expected and according to the data of Álvarez-Ortega et al. (1997). However, acyl groups were not distributed according to the theory of 1,3-random and 2-random (Vander Wal, 1960). The saturated fatty acids, palmitic and stearic, were not uniformly distributed. This result is in agreement with the previous data (Reske et al., 1997) showing a preference for sn-3 positions on the sn-1 position of saturated fatty acids, mainly when the stearic acid content increased (11). %) with respect to the common sunflower that had 4.8%. The distribution of TAG of sunflower oils differing in the content of stearic acid and in the oleic / linoleic, high oleic to high linoleic, is shown in Figure 3. It was found that the theoretical values of the groups of species of sunflower TAG (SSS, SUS, SUU and UUU) expected for the different content of saturated fatty acid, based on the composition observed in the sn-2 position and in total fatty acid content applied by the theory of the 1, 3 -random and 2-random are different in the TAG compositions found in the seeds analyzed. The composition of TAG has been determined by GLC and the data of these TAG species grouped by instauration level (Fernández-Moya et al., 2000). As shown in Figure 3, the saturated fatty acids of sunflower follow an asymmetric distribution in TAG, the values obtained for SUU are always higher than the expected values, and the values for SUS and UUU are lower than the values anticipated by a non-distributed distribution. specific in positions sn-1 and sn-3. These results are also in agreement with the previous results with sunflower mutant TAG species of high stearic acid content (high stearic) containing two molecules of linoleic acid and one saturated fatty acid, which was more abundant than expected by the 1,3-random and 2-random theory (Fernández-Moya et al., 2000). The increase in SUU and the reduction of UUU TAG species were directly correlated with the total content of stearic acid in the oil. The distribution coefficient of saturated fatty acids (a) between sn-1 and sn-3 positions in the control and high stearic mutant lines has been calculated (table 4). This coefficient is always between 0.19 and 0.37 when the content of linoleic acid is higher than the content of oleic acid, and between 0.15 and 0.27 when the content of oleic acid is higher than the content of linoleic acid.

Table 4 The content of stearic acid (18: 0), the total content of saturated fatty acid (S), the different groups of TAG (SUS, SUU and UUU), and the value of the distribution coefficient a in several lines are shown normal sunflower mutants. RHA-274 is from USDA-ARS, Northerm Crop Science Lab, Fargo, ND. Other lines are from the Sunflower Collection of the Institute of Fat, CSIC, Seville, Spain. The content of the different fatty acids in the lines is represented as: HS, high stearic; MS, stearic medium; HL, high linoleic and HO, high oleic.

Line Type 18: 0 S SUS SUU UUU to RHA-274 Normal 5 11.7 2.9 29.5 67.7 0.31 CAS-3 HSHL 25.6 37 28.6 48.9 21.6 0.33 CAS-29 HSHL 33.2 42 28.9 55.8 14.7 0.37 CAS-4 MSHL 12.9 20.3 8.3 44.5 47.3 0.29 G-8 HO 4.9 9.4 1.1 22.7 76.2 0.19 CAS-15 HSHO 23.4 33.5 19.3 61.9 18.8 0.23 DG-9 MSHO 19.1 29.8 16.8 55.6 27.5 0.27 Therefore, there is still a need for a sunflower oil having a distribution coefficient above 0.38 ..}.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is the provision of a sunflower oil directly obtained from sunflower seeds with at least 12%, preferably at least 20% stearic acid, based on the total fatty acid content, and in said oil the distribution coefficient of the saturated fatty acids between positions sn-1 and sn-3 of the TAG molecule is at least 0.38, preferably at least 0.42, and most preferably 0.46. When the content of oleic acid is higher than the content of linoleic acid in the oil, and the content of stearic acid is at least 12%, preferably at least 20% based on the total fatty acid content, and the distribution coefficient of the saturated fatty acids between the sn-1 and sn-3 positions in the TAG molecule is at least 0.28, preferably 0.32, and most preferably 0.36. The present invention also relates to sunflower plants that form seeds that contain a "" "endogenous oil, obtainable from sunflower seeds, with the characteristics indicated above, and the sunflower seeds produced by said sunflower plant.This constitutes an additional objective of the present invention, and provides a method for producing a plant forming seeds and containing an endogenous oil, with at least 12% stearic acid referred to the total fatty acid content, and where the distribution coefficient and saturated fatty acids a between positions sn-1 and sn-2 is at least 0.38 or 0.28, when the content of oleic acid is greater than the content of linoleic acid It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide many hybrid plants and their progeny which have the distribution of saturated fatty acids between positions sn-1 and sn-3 and other desirable characteristics.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention thus relates to a sunflower oil directly obtained from the sunflower seeds with at least 12% stearic acid, based on the total fatty acid content, characterized in that the distribution coefficient of saturated fatty acids a between positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.38, whose seeds are obtainable by a method comprising the steps of: a) the provision of seeds containing an oil having a content of stearic acid of at least 12% based on the total content of fatty acid in the oil; b) the supply of seeds containing an oil that has a distribution coefficient greater than 0.38; c) the crossing of the plants from the seeds provided in step a) and b); d) the harvest of the seed progeny Fl; e) Planting the seeds of the progeny Fl to develop plants; f) the self-pollination of the plants developed in this way, to produce the F2 seed; g) test the seed for the presence of a stearic acid content of at least 12% and a distribution coefficient a of at least 0.38; h) plant seeds that have the desired levels of stearic acid content and a distribution coefficient a to develop plants; i) self-pollinate the plants developed in this way to produce the F3 seed; and j) optionally repeating steps g), h) and i) until the desired levels of stearic acid content and distribution coefficient a are set. The distribution coefficient of the saturated fatty acids a between positions sn-1 and sn-3 is preferably at least 0.42, more preferably at least 0.46. The invention also relates to a sunflower oil directly obtainable from the sunflower seed with at least 12% of stearic acid required at the total fatty acid content, characterized in that the distribution coefficient of the saturated fatty acids a between the positions of 1 and sn-3 is at least 0.28 when the content of oleic acid is greater than the content of linoleic acid in the oil, whose seeds are obtainable by a method comprising the steps of: a) providing the seeds containing an oil having a stearic acid content of at least 12% based on the total fatty acid content in the oil, and wherein the content of oleic acid is higher than the content of linoleic acid; b) the supply of seeds containing an oil that has a distribution coefficient greater than 0.38 in the oil; c) the development of the plants from the seeds provided in step a) and b) and crossing them; d) - the harvest of the progeny of the seed Fl; e) Planting the seeds of the progeny Fl to develop plants; f) the self-pollination of the plants developed in this way, to produce the F2 seed; g) the test of the seeds for the presence of a stearic acid content of at least 12%, an oleic acid content higher than the linoleic acid content, and an a distribution coefficient of at least 0.28; h) planting seeds that have the desired levels of stearic, oleic, linoleic, and distribution coefficient a to develop plants; i) self-pollination of the plants developed in this way to produce the F3 seed; and j) optionally repeating steps g), h) and i) until the desired levels of stearic, oleic and linoleic acid content and distribution coefficient a are set. Preferably, the distribution coefficient of saturated fatty acids a between positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.32, more preferably at least 0.36. The invention also relates to sunflower plants that form seeds that contain endogenous oil, as defined above and seeds produced by these plants. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing a plant that forms seeds containing an endogenous oil with at least 12% stearic acid, based on the total fatty acid content, and wherein the distribution coefficient of saturated fatty acids a between the positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.38, which method comprises: ~ ~ a) - -the-provision - of -seeds -which-contain an oil having a stearic acid content of minus 12%, based on the total content of fatty acid in the oil; b) the supply of seeds containing an oil that has a distribution coefficient greater than 0.38; c) the development of the plants from the seeds provided in step a) and b) and crossing them; d) the harvest of the progeny of the seed Fl; e) Planting the seeds of the progeny Fl to develop plants; f) the self-pollination of the plants developed in this way, to produce the F2 seed; g) the test of the seeds for the presence of a stearic acid content of at least 12%, and a distribution coefficient α of at least 0.38; h) the planting of seeds that have the desired levels of stearic acid content and a distribution coefficient to develop plants; i) self-pollination of the plants developed in this way to produce the F3 seeds; and j) optionally repeating steps g), h) and i) until the desired levels of stearic acid content and distribution coefficient a are set. - - - The -semi-1-l-as-containing - an .. oil-conenmenes 12% stearic acid are provided by: a) the treatment of sunflower seeds that have a stearic acid content less than 12%, with a mutagenic agent, in particular sodium azide or an alkylating agent, more particularly ethyl methanesulfonate; b) production of plants from these that are pollinated to produce seeds; . c) testing the seeds for the desired content of stearic acid; d) optionally repeat steps b) and e). Seeds that contain the distribution coefficient of saturated fatty acids a between positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.38, are provided by:. a) the treatment of sunflower seeds having a distribution coefficient value less than 0.38, with a mutagenic agent, in particular sodium azide or an alkylating agent, more particularly ethyl methanesulfonate; b) the production of plants from these that are pollinated to produce seeds; c) the test of the seeds for the desired value of the distribution coefficient a; d) optionally repeat steps b) and e). In an alternative embodiment, the invention relates to a method for producing a plant that forms seeds containing an endogenous oil with at least 12% stearic acid based on the total fatty acid content, where the oleic acid content is higher than the content of linoleic acid, and where the distribution coefficient of saturated fatty acids a between positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.28, characterized the method because it comprises: a) the provision of seeds containing an oil which has a stearic acid content of at least 12%, referred to the total content of fatty acid in the oil, and where the content of oleic acid is higher than the content of linoleic acid; b) the provision of seeds containing an oil that has a distribution coefficient greater than 0. 38 in the oil; c) the crossing of the plants from the seeds provided in step a) and b); d) the harvest of the progeny of the seed Fl; e) the planting of progeny seeds Fl to develop plants; f) the self-pollination of the plants developed in this way to produce the F2 seed; g) the test of the seeds for the presence of a stearic acid content of at least 12%, an oleic acid content greater than the linoleic acid content and a distribution coefficient a of at least 0.28; h) the planting of the seeds that have the desired levels of stearic, oleic and linoleic acid content and the distribution coefficient a to develop the plants; i) self-pollination of the plants developed in this way, to produce the F3 seed; and j) optionally repeat steps g), h) and i) until the levels of the stearic, oleic and linoleic acid content and the distribution coefficient a are set. Seeds containing an oil with at least 12% stearic acid are provided by: - - a) - against the seeds of sunflower which have a stearic acid content of less than 12% with a mutagenic agent , in particular sodium azide or an alkylating agent, more particularly ethyl methanesulfonate; b) produce plants from them, which are pollinated to produce seeds; Seeds that contain an oil where the distribution coefficient of saturated fatty acids a between positions sn-1 and__sn-3 is at least 0.38, are provided by: a) the treatment of sunflower seeds that have a value of distribution coefficient at less than 0.38, with a mutagenic agent, in particular sodium azide or an alkylating agent, more particularly ethyl methanesulfonate; b) produce plants from them, which are pollinated to produce seeds; c) test the seeds for the value of the distribution coefficient a, desired; d) optionally repeat steps b) and e). The invention further relates to the hybrid plants obtainable by crossing a first parent plant resulting from the above methods, and a second parent plant having the desirable characteristics, and to the progeny of the hybrid plant. The second parent plant may also be a plant resulting from the above method. The invention also relates to the use of oil in the production of food products, and to food products prepared with or containing this oil. More particularly, the invention relates to a new type of sunflower mutant, which has a better distribution than the previous sunflower lines. In this way, this mutant has better properties for the production of margarine, jams to spread, than the lines currently available (figure 3). The best triglycerides for margarine are saturated-unsaturated (SUS) types, preferably a triglyceride of saturated-oleic-saturated (SOS) type.

This new mutant line called CAS-36, obtained by technological methods, has been deposited with the ATCC and has been given accession number PTA-5041. This mutant has the best distribution of TAG according to the random theory. The oil data from a seed sample of some CAS-36 plants are shown in Table 5. Table 5 The content of stearic, total saturated fatty acid (S), the proportion of oleic acid / linolenic (0 / L), the different TAG groups, and the value of the a distribution coefficient in some CAS-36 mutant plants.

In U.S. Patent No. 6,475,548 there is a comparison to a reference spreads, made with the untreated oil of WO 95/20313 and a margarine made with the stearin fraction of the oil of WO 95/20313. The spreads manufactured in the stearin fraction apparently gave good dispersion capacity at temperatures close to the refrigerator temperature, proper melting in the mouth and stability. The operation of such a mixture of fats apparently gave similar performance to known compositions of high quality fat without unnatural components such as hydrogenated fat. It is well known that the stearin fractions of fats can be used in a fatty phase of spreads to solve problems in the preparation of spreads. For example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,438,149, spreads were prepared with a fatty phase containing less than 70% butter fat. This product was too soft in consistency. But when the stearin fraction of the fat was used, a less expensive and more dispersible product was made. U.S. Patent No. 6,475,548 teaches a method of preparing a triglyceride fat suitable for the structuring of a liquid vegetable oil or food spreads. The method of preparing a triglyceride fat was with a high stearic, high oleic sunflower oil (HSHOSF), with at least 12% by weight of the stearic acid residues and at least 40% by weight of the acid residues were subjected to wet fractionation or dry fractionation and a stearin fraction was collected. In addition, the above patent teaches that the stearin fraction of the fat blend was obtained by exposing the initial HSHOSF oil to standard conditions for fractionation, either in wet or dry fractionation. The fraction that contained > 30% by weight of SUS and < 40% by weight of SUU triglycerides must be collected and the fractionation could be obtained when the first 25% of the solid fat has been crystallized. The present invention can also be used in a process of the preparation of a triglyceride fat with a high stearic, high oleic sunflower oil (HSHOSF), by wet fractionation or dry fractionation and then collecting a fraction of stearin. More particularly, the preparation of a triglyceride fat with a high oleic stearic high oleic sunflower oil (HSHOSF) with at least 12% stearic acid based on the total fatty acid content, characterized in that the distribution coefficient of the saturated fatty acids at between the positions of sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.28, subjected to wet fractionation or dry fractionation if a fraction of stearin is collected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 shows the biosynthetic pathway of the triglyceride. Figure 2 is the theoretical distribution of the distribution of sunflower TAG species, with respect to the increasing saturated fatty acid content, when the value of coefficient a is 0.5. See the legend of the figure for TAG nomenclature. Figure 3 shows the distribution of triglycerides (TAG) in seeds that segregate for high oleic and high stearic characters versus saturated fatty acid content. The theoretical distribution, as a control, is represented as lines, and the distribution of the different oil samples are represented as' symbols, see the legend of the figure for TAG nomenclature. The invention will be further illustrated in the following examples and is not intended to limit the invention.

EXAMPLES Introduction The invention relates to a method for preparing sunflower seeds having a better distribution of saturated fatty acids in the different species of triglycerides, in comparison to wild-type seeds. This method includes the step of treating the progenitor seeds with a mutagenic agent for a period of time and in sufficient concentration to induce one or more mutations in the gene trait involving a biosynthesis of the triglycerides. This results in an increased production of the triglyceride species of the SUS type and lower SUU content. These mutagenic agents include agents such as sodium azide or an alkylating agent, such as ethyl methanesulfonate, but any other mutagenic agent having the same or similar effects may also be used. The treated seeds will contain heritable genetic changes. These mutated seeds are then germinated and the plants of the progeny are developed from them. To increase the traits in the lines, the progeny can be crossed or self-pollinated. The seeds of the progeny are collected and analyzed. Seeds that have the triglyceride trait almost random or random, can then be crossed to any other line and the trait transferred. Optionally, there may be additional cycles of germination, cultivation and self-polymerization to fix the homozygosity of the traits in the lines and the cross-connection of the seeds. Ethyl methane sulfonate was used as the mutagenic agent in Example 1. A sunflower line with a higher value greater than 0.4 has been obtained. The original progenitor line of mutagenized sunflower was CAS-10 (Collection of Sunflowers from Instituto de la Grasa, CSIC, Sevilla Spain) . The oil in this line has a value less than 0.38. The high oleic material used in this is derived from the oil lines investigated in Russia (Soldatov, 1976) which has a value between 0.15 and 0.27. The high oleic high stearic material used is derived from crosses of the high oleic line with the mutant CAS-3 deposited under accession number 75968 of the ATCC, and selecting high oleic high stearic seeds as described in WO-0074470" Plants, seeds and oils with high content of oleic acid and high content of stearic acid ". A method for plant preparations - with high value a with more linoleic acid than oleic acid and vice versa, have been described in the following examples.

EXAMPLE 1 The seeds are mutagenized with a 70 mM solution of ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) in water. The treatment was carried out at room temperature, during 2 hours, while stirring (60 rpm). After mutagenesis, the EMS solution was discarded and the seeds were washed for 16 hours under tap water. The treated seeds were germinated in the field and the plants were self-pollinated. The seeds collected from these plants were used to select new sunflower lines with modifications in the distribution of triglycerides. By using the method of Garcés, R. and Mancha, M. (1993), the fatty acid composition of the seeds and by using the method of Fernández-Moya et al. (2000), the composition of triglycerides were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. A first plant with a value of 0.42 was selected. The progeny were cultivated for five generations, where the value a was increased, and the new genetic trait became stably fixed in the genetic material of the seed. This line is called CAS-36 and has a linoleic content that is higher than the oleic acid content. The minimum and maximum value of the line were 0.38 and 0.5 respectively. Table 6 shows some data from the analysis of seeds from several CAS-36 plants and the data needed to calculate the a values according to the proposed formula.

Table 6 Composition of fatty acid, total saturated (S) and saturated in position sn-2 (S2) of TAG, and the composition of TAG and a Sat calculated following the formula for some CAS-36 oils.

EXAMPLE 2 Sunflower plants were developed from the sunflower seeds of the high oleic acid and high stearic acid line, such as that shown in Table 2. The sunflower plants were also developed from the seeds of sunflower of CAS-36. The lines were crossed. The plants were assisted by artificial pollination in order to ensure that adequate seed production occurred. The Fl seed was produced on the high oleic stearic line, or vice versa, and harvested. F2 seeds with a value higher than 0.28 were selected, with high stearic and more oleic than linoleic acids. Although this produces the oil of the present invention, the level of production is limited. Therefore, fixed inbred lines are desirable that show the seeds with these values a. These lines with high inbred stearic inbred, fixed, homozygous, can then be crossed to form the hybrid seed, which will produce the F2 seed by exposing the features of the desired oil of the present invention. Towards this end, the Fl seeds were planted and the plants produced were self-pollinated under isolated conditions and the F2 seed was produced. The F2 seed was tested for the value a. The remnant portion of the seeds that reveal the trait was used to develop plants to form the F3 seed. The process of self-pollination and classification and selection is repeated to develop the fixed homozygous line with a value greater than 0.28, all having a value of 0.5 or close to 0.5. ~ Once the feature is fixed, similar high oleic lines can be crossed to form the hybrid seed having the trait as shown in Table 7. According to the invention, the plants and the sunflower seeds of which can be extracted said acid, have been obtained by means of a biotechnological process. The content of value a is an inheritable trait and is clearly -independent of growth conditions.

Table 7 Stearic (18: 0), total content of saturated fatty acid (S), proportion of oleic / linoleic acid (0 / L), the different TAG groups, and the value of the distribution coefficient a in the line derived from the crosses of the mutant line CAS-36 and CAS-15 or CAS-24 (Table 2) are shown the high stearic lines. The proportions of the oleic versus linoleic content are represented as 0 / L, if > 1 because the oleic content is greater than the linoleic content in the selected lines.

EXAMPLE 3 The sunflower plants were developed from sunflower seeds of the high stearic linoleic high line as CAS-3, CAS-30, or any other of the high stearic linoleic high lines shown in Table 2. The plants Sunflower seeds were also developed from the sunflower seeds of CAS-36. The lines were crossed. The plants were assisted by artificial pollination in order to ensure that adequate seed production occurred. The Fl seed was produced on the high stearic linoleic high line, or vice versa, and harvested. F2 seeds with a value greater than 0.38, high content of stearic acid and more linoleic than oleic acids were selected. Although this produces the oil of the present invention, the level of production is limited. Therefore, fixed inbred lines that show seeds with these values a, are desirable. These fixed lines, oily, inbred, high oleic, high stearic, can then be crossed to form the hybrid seed, which will produce the F2 seed that brings out the desired acid traits of the present invention. Towards this end, Fl seeds were planted and the plants produced were self-pollinated under isolated conditions and the F2 seed was produced. The F2 seed was tested for value. The remnant portion of the seeds that reveal the trait was used to develop plants to form the F3 seed. The process of self-pollination, classification and selection is repeated ... to develop the fixed homozygous line with high linoleic and high stearic acid content and a value greater than 0.38, all of which have a value of 0.5 or close to 0.5. Once the feature is fixed, similar lines of high stearic linoleic can be crossed to form the hybrid seed having the trait as shown in Table 8. According to the invention, the plants and the sunflower seeds of which can be extracted said acid, have been obtained by means of a biotechnological process. The a-value content is an inheritable trait and is clearly independent of growth conditions.

Table 8 Stearic (18: 0), total content of saturated fatty acid (S), proportion of oleic / linoleic acid (0 / L), the different__TAG groups, and the value of the distribution coefficient a in the lines derived from the crosses of the CAS-36 mutant line either of the high stearic linoleic high lines shown in Table 2, as CAS-3 or CAS-30 (Table 2) are shown. The proportions of the oleic versus linoleic content are represented as 0 / L, where < 1, because the content of oleic acid is lower than the content of linoleic acid in the selected lines.

REFERENCES 1. Álvarez-Ortega. R., Cantisán, S., Martínez-Forcé, E. and Garcés, R. (1997) Characterization of polar and non-polar seed lipid classes from highly saturated fatty acid sunflower mutants. Lipids 32, 833-837. 2. Chow, C. K. (1992) Fatty acids in foods and their health implications. Marcel Dekker, New York. 3. Fernández-Moya, V., Martínez-Porce, E. and Garcés, R. (2000) Identification of triacylglycerol species from high-saturated sunflower (Helianthus annuus) mutants. Agrie. Food Chem. 48, 764-769. 4. Garcés -, - R.- and-Mancha -, - M .- (1993) -One-step lipid extraction and fatty acid methyl esters preparation from fresh plant tissues. Anal. Biochem. 211, 139-143. 5. Gunstone, F.D. Harwood, J.L. and. Padley, F.B. (1994) The Lipid Handbook. Chapman and Hall. London 6. Laakso, P. and Christie, W.W. (1990) Chromatographic resolution of chiral diacylglycerol derivatives: potential in the stereo-spesifis analysis of triacyl-sn-glycerols. Lipids 25, 349-353. 7. Osorio, J., Fernandez-Martinez, J., Mancha, M. and Garces, R. (1995) Mutant sunflowers with high 'edneentration ~ of ~ "saturated" ~ fsy ~ arcids ~ in ~ t ~ he ~ OIL . Crop Sci. 35, 739-742. 8. Reske, J., Siebrecht, J. and Hazebroed, J. (1997) Triacylglycerol composition and structure in genetically modified sunflower and soybean oils. J. A. Oil Chem. Soc. 74, 989-998. 9. Takagi, T. and Ando, Y. (1991) Stereospecific analysis of triacyl-sn-glycerols by chiral HPLC. Lipids 26, 542-547.

. Vander Wal, R.J. (1960) Calculation of the distribution of saturated and unsaturated acyl groups in fats, from pancreatic lipase hydrolysis data. J. Am. Oil Chem. Soc. 37, 18-20. 11. Soldatov, K.I. (1976) Chemical mutagenesis in sunflower breeding. pp. 352-357. In: Proc. Int. Sunflower Association. Vlaardingen, The Netherlands It is noted that in relation to this date, the best known method for carrying out the aforementioned invention is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Claims (31)

1. CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. Sunflower oil directly obtained from sunflower seeds with at least 12% stearic acid referred to the total fatty acid content, characterized in that the distribution coefficient of saturated fatty acids ct_ between positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at minus 0.38, whose seeds are obtainable by a method comprising the steps of: a) the provision of seeds containing an oil having a stearic acid content of at least 12% referred to the total content of fatty acid in the oil; b) the supply of seeds containing an oil that has a distribution coefficient greater than 0.38; c) the crossing of the plants from the seeds provided in step a) and b); d) the harvest of the seed progeny Fl; e) Planting the seeds of the progeny Fl to develop plants; f) the self-pollination of the plants developed in this way, to produce the F2 seed; g) test the seed for the presence of a stearic acid content of at least 12% and a distribution coefficient a of at least 0.38; h) plant seeds that have the desired levels of stearic acid content and a distribution coefficient a to develop plants; i) self-pollinate the plants developed in this way to produce the F3 seed; and j) optionally repeating steps g), h) and i) until the desired-levels are determined-of stearic acid content and distribution coefficient a.
2. 2. The sunflower oil according to claim 1, characterized in that the distribution coefficient of the saturated fatty acids a between the positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.42.
3. 3. The sunflower oil according to claim 1, characterized in that the coefficient of A 'distribution of the saturated fatty acids a between the positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.46.
4. 4. The sunflower oil according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the content of stearic acid referred to the total fatty acid content is at least 20%.
5. 5. The sunflower oil directly obtained from sunflower seeds with at least 12% stearic acid referred to the total fatty acid content and where the content of oleic acid is higher than the content of linoleic acid in the oil, characterized in that the coefficient of distribution of saturated fatty acids a, between positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.28, whose seeds are obtainable by a method comprising the steps of: a) providing seeds containing an oil having - a-stearic acid content of at least 12% based on the total content of fatty acid in the oil, and where the content of oleic acid is higher than the content of linoleic acid; b) the supply of seeds containing an oil that has a distribution coefficient greater than 0.38 in the oil; c) the development of the plants from the seeds provided in step a) and b) and crossing them; d) the harvest of the progeny of the seed Fl; e) Planting the seeds of the progeny Fl to develop plants; f) the self-pollination of the plants developed in this way, to produce the F2 seed; g) the test of the seeds for the presence of a stearic acid content of at least 12%, an oleic acid content higher than the lichelic acid content, and an a distribution coefficient of at least 0.28; h) planting seeds that have the desired levels of stearic, oleic, linoleic, and distribution coefficient a to develop plants; i) self-pollination of the plants developed in this way to produce the F3 seed; and j) optionally repeat steps g), h) and i) until the desired levels of stearic, oleic and linoleic acid content and the distribution coefficient a are set.
6. 6. The sunflower oil according to claim 5, characterized in that the distribution coefficient of the saturated fatty acids a between the positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.32.
7. 7. The sunflower oil according to claim 5, characterized in that the distribution coefficient of the saturated fatty acids a between the positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.36.
8. The sunflower oil according to any of claims 5-7, characterized in that the content of stearic acid referred to the total content of fatty acid is at least 20%.
9. 9. The sunflower plant, characterized in that it forms seeds containing an endogenous oil according to claims 1-4.
10. 10. Sunflower seeds, characterized in that they are produced by sunflower plants according to claim 9.
11. 11. Sunflower oil, characterized in that it is obtainable from the sunflower seeds produced by the sunflower plants in accordance with the claim 9. - .
12. 12.- The sunflower plant, characterized in that it forms seeds that contain an endogenous oil according to claims 5 to 8.
13. 13. The sunflower seeds, characterized because they are produced by the sunflower plants in accordance with the claim 12.
14. The sunflower oil, characterized in that it is obtainable from the sunflower seeds produced by the sunflower plants according to claim 12.
15. 15. A method for producing a plant that forms seeds that contain an endogenous oil, with at least 12% stearic acid referred to the total fatty acid content, and wherein the distribution coefficient of the saturated fatty acids a between the positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.38, characterized in the method because it comprises a) the provision of seeds containing an oil having a stearic acid content of at least 12%, based on the total content of fatty acid in the oil; b) the supply of seeds containing an oil that has a distribution coefficient greater than 0.38; c) the development of the plants from the seeds provided in step a) and b) and crossing them; _. .. _. _ _) The harvest of the progeny of the seed Fl; e) Planting the seeds of the progeny Fl to develop plants; f) the self-pollination of the plants developed in this way, to produce the F2 seed; g) the test of the seeds for the presence of a stearic acid content of at least 12%, and a distribution coefficient α of at least 0.38; h) planting seeds that have the desired levels of stearic acid content and distribution coefficient a to develop plants; i) self-pollination of the plants developed in this way to produce the F3 seeds; and j) optionally repeating steps g), h) and i) until the desired levels of stearic acid content and distribution coefficient a are set.
16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the seeds containing an oil with at least 12% stearic acid are provided by: a) the treatment of the sunflower seeds having a stearic acid content of less than 12%, with a mutagenic agent, in particular sodium azide or an alkylating agent, more particularly ethyl methanesulfonate; - __ b) production of plants from these that are pollinated to produce seeds; c) testing the seeds for the desired content of stearic acid; d) optionally repeat steps b) and e).
17. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that the seeds containing an oil where the distribution coefficient of the saturated fatty acids a between the positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.38, are provided by: a) the treatment of sunflower seeds that have a distribution coefficient value less than 0. 38, with a mutagenic agent, in particular sodium azide or an alkylating agent, more particularly ethyl methanesulfonate; b) the production of plants from these that are pollinated to produce seeds; c) the test of the seeds for the desired value of the distribution coefficient a; d) optionally repeat steps b) and e).
18. 18. A method for producing a plant that forms seeds containing an endogenous oil with at least 12% stearic acid based on the total fatty acid content, where the content of oleic acid is higher than the content of linoleic acid, and where The distribution coefficient of saturated fatty acids a between positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.28, characterized in that it comprises: a) the provision of seeds containing an oil having a stearic acid content of at least 12%, based on the total content of fatty acid in the oil, and where the content of oleic acid is higher than the content of linoleic acid; b) the supply of seeds containing an oil that has a distribution coefficient greater than 0.38 in the oil; c) the crossing of the plants from the seeds provided in step a) and b); d) the harvest of the progeny of the seed Fl; e) Planting the seeds of the progeny Fl to develop plants; f) the self-pollination of the plants developed in this way to produce the F2 seed; g) the test of the seeds for the presence of a stearic acid content of at least 12%, an oleic acid content greater than the linoleic acid content and a distribution coefficient a of at least 0.28; h) the planting of the seeds that have the desired levels of stearic, oleic and linoleic acid content and the distribution coefficient a to develop the plants; i) self-pollination of the plants developed in this way, to produce the F3 seed; and j) optionally repeating steps g), h) and i) until the levels of the stearic, oleic and linoleic acid content and the distribution coefficient a are set.
19. 19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that seeds containing an oil with at least 12% stearic acid are provided by: a) the treatment of sunflower seeds having a stearic acid content of less than 12 % with a mutagenic agent, in particular sodium azide or an alkylating agent, more particularly ethyl methanesulfonate; b) the production of the plants from these, which are pollinated to produce seeds; c) testing the seeds for the desired content of stearic acid; d). the provision of seeds containing an oil where the content of oleic acid is greater than the content of linoleic acid; e) the crossing of the plants from the seeds tested in step c) and from the seeds provided in step d); f) the_cropping of the progeny of the seed Fl; g) the self-pollination of the plants developed in this way to produce the F2 seed; h) testing the seeds for the presence of a stearic acid content of at least 12% and an oleic acid content greater than the linoleic acid content; i) the planting of seeds that have the desired levels of stearic, oleic and linoleic acid content; j) the self-pollination of the plants developed in this way to produce the F3 seed; and k) optionally repeating steps h), i) and j) until the desired levels of stearic, oleic or linoleic acid content are set.
20. 20. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that the seeds containing an oil where the distribution coefficient of the saturated fatty acids a between the positions sn-1 and sn-3 is at least 0.38, are provided by: a) the treatment of sunflower seeds having a distribution coefficient value less than 0.38, with a mutagenic agent, in particular sodium azide or an alkylating agent, more particularly ethyl methanesulfonate; ... - b) produce - plants - from these, which are pollinated to produce seeds; c) test the seeds for the value of the distribution coefficient a, desired; d) optionally repeat steps b) and e).
21. 21. A hybrid plant, characterized in that it is obtainable by crossing a first progenitor plant resulting from the method according to any of claims 15 to 17, and a second parent plant having the desirable characteristics.
22. 22. A hybrid plant according to claim 21, characterized in that the first progenitor is a plant according to claim 9.
23. 23. A hybrid plant, characterized in that it is obtainable by crossing a first parent plant which is a plant of according to claim 9, and a second progenitor plant which is a plant according to claim 9, with other desirable characteristics.
24. 24. A hybrid plant according to claim 23, characterized in that it is a plant according to claim 9, with other desirable characteristics.
25. 25. A hybrid plant, characterized in that it is obtainable by crossing a first progenitor plant resulting from the method according to any of claims 18 to 20, and a second parent plant having desirable characteristics.
26. 26. A hybrid plant according to claim 25, characterized in that the first progenitor is a plant according to claim 12.
27. 27. A hybrid plant, characterized in that it is obtainable by crossing a first parent plant which is a plant of according to claim 12, and a second progenitor plant which is a plant according to claim 12, with other desirable characteristics.
28. 28. A hybrid plant according to claim 27, characterized in that it is a plant according to claim 12, with other desirable characteristics.
29. 29. The progeny of the hybrid plant according to any of claims 21 to 28.
30. 30. The oil according to any of claims 1-8, 11 and 14, characterized in that it is for the production of a food product.
31. 31. The food product, characterized in that it comprises an oil according to any of claims 1-8, 11 and 14.