INFLUENCE OF SOWING DATES ON YIELD AND OIL QUALITY IN SUNFLOWER

Effect of sowing dates (temperature regimes) on growth, yield oil cont ent and quality in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was studied. Plant s of early sowings which had received low temperature during 0-45 days of growth grew very poorly in height. Plant height significantly corr elated with temperature at all the three growth stages. Plants sown in March produced highest yield and january sown plants recorded lowest yield. Protein content of seeds decreased where as the oil content inc reased with delay in sowing dates. Oil content in the seeds collected from different sowing dates showed significant differences. However, o il content was not significantly correlated with temperatures at any g rowth stages. Incorporation of C-14-acetate into lipids of developing seeds was increased as the sowing was delayed. Early sown plants had h igher percentage of oleic acid and late sown plants had higher percent age of linoleic acid. Effect sowing dates on oil content and oil quali ty were discussed on the basis of temperature variation during differe nt growth stages.