Chlorogenic Acid Content of Sunflower Seed Flour as Affected by Seeding and Harvest Date

The effect of seeding date on the chlorogenic acid content of sunflower seed flour was determined by seeding the cultivars Krasnodarets and Peredovik at seven dates, starting on 14 May, over 3 yr. Sequential plantings were made at increments of approximately 70 growing degree days (base = 5.6 C). Plants were harvested at normal field maturity. The time and rate of deposition of chlorogenic acid was determined by harvesting plants at 7-day intervals from 21 to 49 days after flowering. The seeds were dehulled and defatted before determining the chlorogenic acid content of the flour. Chlorogenic acid content declined steadily from an average of 4.22% for the first seeding to 3.30% for the last seeding. About one-half of the total chlorogenic acid was present 21 days after flowering. Deposition continued rapidly for the next 14 days then the level began to stabilize. Delay in seeding tended to shorten the period of vegetative growth and shift the deposition of chlorogenic acid to a cooler portion of the growing season. It is suggested that a combination of these factors caused the reduction in chlorogenic acid content of sunflower flour.