Question

Sunflower is principally cultivated for its

• A. Starch
• B. Protein
• C. Alkaloid
• D. Oilseed crop

Answer 1

The correct option is D Oilseed crop

Helianthus (sunflowers) is a genus of plants comprising about 70 species in the family Asteraceae, all of which are native to North America except three species in South America.

Sunflower oil is the non-volatile oil compressed from sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds. Sunflower oil is commonly used in food as a frying oil and in cosmetic formulations as an emollient. Sunflower oil is a mono-unsaturated (MUFA)/poly-unsaturated (PUFA) mixture of mostly oleic acid (omega-9)-linoleic acid (omega-6) group of oils. The oil content of the seed ranges from 22 to 36% (average, 28%): the kernel contains 45-55% oil. The expressed oil is of light amber colour with a mild and pleasant flavour; refined oil is pale yellow. Refining losses are low and the oil has good keeping qualities with light tendency for flavour reversion. The oil contains appreciable quantities of vitamin E, sterols, squalene and other aliphatic hydrocarbons. So, sunflower is principally cultivated for its oils and not for starch, protein and alkaloids.

Thus, the correct answer is option D.