HIGH OLEIC SUNFLOWER VARIETIES SCREENING IN CENTRAL ITALY FOR PURE VEGETABLE OIL SHORT CHAIN DEVELOPMENT

The research aims at selecting the most suitable high oleic sunflower varieties in different environments in order to produce pure vegetable oil as bio-fuel. This work is a technical activity within the LIFE EU project Vegetable Oil Initiative for a Cleaner Environment (VOICE), which objectives are oriented to a significant reduction of GHG and other gaseous emissions by the development of short bio-fuel chain for decentralised energy generation and transports. The variety trial allowed to obtain data about the main productive parameters of 16 commercial high oleic sunflower varieties, according to a certain environment. For a right variety choice, the following parameters were taken into account: adaptability to the environments (cropping cycle length and plant height); productivity (seed and oil yield); qualitative character (oil content and composition); resistance/tolerance to the pests and diseases. According to the objectives above mentioned, two experimental trials were carried out in two representative localities, Cesa in Arezzo Province and Coltano in Pisa Province, both located in Tuscany. The 16 varieties were assessed in a balanced lattice experimental design with four incomplete blocks and five replications, totally 80 parcels.