Lipid and fatty acid composition in non-embryogenic calli and embryogenic tissues in wild cherry (Prunus avium)

In Prunus avium, the lipid and fatty acid composition of non-embryogenic ca lli and embryogenic tissues was studied. The embryogenic tissues were chara cterised by a higher content of triglycerides and total phospholipids than non-embryogenic calli, Neutral lipids (NL) from embryogenic tissues appeare d less saturated than NL from non-embryogenic calli. Somatic embryogenesis was associated with considerable proportions of linoleic acid in both NL an d phosphatidylcholine (PC) (23% in NL and 60% in PC), together with high pr oportions of palmitic acid in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidy linositol (PI) (92% in PE and 62% in PI). Conversely, non-embryogenic calli were characterised by a considerable proportion of palmitic acid in NL (74 %) and high proportions of oleic acid in PE (100%) and PC (84%). These resu lts suggest differences between the lipid biosynthetic pathway of embryogen ic tissues when compared with that of non-embryogenic calli.