摘要：A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomic Research Area of PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi to evaluate the quality parameters of spring planted sunflower hybrids as influenced by varying potassium application doses during two consecutive years i.e. 2008 and 2009. Experiment was quadruplicated using randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement keeping different levels of nutritional area in main plots and sunflower hybrids in subplots. Protein and achene oil contents were determined by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Technique, where as fatty acid composition was determined by GC-9A Fatty Acid Analyzer. Different levels of nutritional area significantly increased protein content and palmitic acid concentration in achene but reduced oil content when levels of nutritional area vary from 60 x 20 cm2 to 60 x 60 cm2 (2 plants/hill). However, the concentration of oleic, linoleic and linolenic remained un-affected by varying levels of nutritional area. Hybrid Hysun-33 produced significantly higher protein content (18.89%) in achene as compared to S-278. Conversely, hybrid S-278 accumulated significantly higher oil content (43.48 %) as compared to hybrid Hysun-33. No proper pattern was noticed regarding stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid accumulation in achenes. It is concluded that sunflower hybrids exhibited differential genotypic response to different levels of nutritional area by increasing oil contents, palmitic acid concentration and reducing protein contents in achenes without affecting stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acid concentration.
