Source: European Patent Office

EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC

(43) Date of publication: 18.01.2006 Bulletin 2006/03
(21) Application number: 04726189.6
(22) Date of filing: 07.04.2004
(51) Int Cl.: A01H 5/00 (1968.09) A01H 5/10 (1968.09) A01H 1/06 (1968.09)
(86) International application number: PCT/ES2004/070019
(87) International publication number: WO 2004/089068 (21.10.2004 Gazette 2004/43)
(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States: AL HR LT LV MK
(30) Priority: 10.04.2003 ES 200300859
(71) Applicant: CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS 28006 Madrid (ES)
(72) Inventors:
• VELASCO VARO, Leonardo, Inst.Agric.Sostenible E-14004 Cordoba (ES)
• FERNANDEZ MARTINEZ, Jose M., Inst.Agric.Sostenible E-14004 Cordoba (ES)
(74) Representative: Ungria Lopez, Javier et al Avda. Ramon y Cajal, 78 28043 Madrid (ES)

The present invention relates to sunflower seeds which have been genetically modified through two artificial induction cycles of mutations followed in each case by processes for the identification of mutant individuals
which have the desired character. The disclosed seeds are characterised in that they contain between
26% and 80% of the tocopherols as delta-tocopherol. This high delta-tocopherol production is determined by
the genotype of the seeds which have been modified to this effect, and is always obtained independently of the
culture conditions, thereby obtaining an inheritable character. Today, sunflower seeds producing such high levels
of delta-tocopherol do not exist. Genetically modified sunflower plants which produce through self-fertilisation seeds with high delta-tocopherol levels and the oil with high natural delta-tocopherol concentration, extracted
from the seeds, are also objectives of the present invention.

Click HERE to view full document in PDF format