Studies on changes in lipid profiles of new varieties of rape during seed maturation

Changes in lipids of three newly developed varieties of rapeseed during see d maturation were studied. Triacylglycerol molecular species, fatty acid co mposition, whole sterol, and four sterol lipids as well as tocopherol were determined at different maturation stages. It was found that marked variations in some lipids were observed in one var iety than the other. Efficient methods of analysis employed in this investi gation and the individual lipid components, even in very minor quantities, were accurately detected. Marked varietal changes in lipids compositions du ring seed maturation manifest themselves, to some extent, in three new rape seed varieties. Changes in lipids of maturing seeds were interpreted in the frame of probable conversion-interconversion reactions that may occur duri ng seed maturation.