Two hundred safflower accessions, originated in 37 countries, and multiplied in two environments, were evaluated for fatty acid composition of the seed oil and other seed characters . Overall mean values of stearic and palmitic acids were similar in both environments but differed for seed weight and oil content . Oleic and linoleic acids showed also similar overall mean content in both environments but some entries with intermediate contents of these acids displayed significant variation among environments . Oleic and linoleic acids showed a tremendous range of variation, from 3 .1 to 90.60 % and from 3 .9 to 88 .8 %, respectively. The ranges of variation observed for stearic, oleic and linoleic acids indicate that all the reccessive genes, already discovered, controlling high content of these acids, st, of and li, are present in the collection . Moreover, the upper values of oleic, ten points higher than the published values for the high oleic genotype olol, suggest than other genes controlling such levels may be present .

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Gamma linolenic acid (GLA) is an essential fatty acid that is being used for the treatment of health problems related to deficiencies in essential fatty acids and prostaglandins. Borage plant is an important source of GLA, but the shattering habit of the genus limits large scale seed production. Looking for alternatives to the available borage material and for the possibilities of borage and other plant species belonging to the same botanical family as potential crops in Mediterranean conditions, this work describes: i) the evaluation of the seed quality of European borage population, and further selection of entries with high oil and GLA, and low erucic acid content, ii) the isolation of two borage mutants with improved seed production characteristics, iii) the first results of the anatomical and molecular studies in relation with the reproductive system and the cariotype of normal and mutants plants, and iv) the beginning and characterization of a germplasm collection of Boraginaceae plant species for its fatty acid composition and adaptability to semi arid environments: Anchusa azurea and Echium boissieri highlight as potential new crops for GLA production.

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