Pollen from five cultivars (cvs.) of pecans [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] was sampled at Brownwood and College Station, Texas, in 1991 and 1992. Samples were analyzed for cytoplasmic lipid classes and constituent fatty acids. Lipid classes in all cvs. included phosphatidyl inasitol, phosphatidyl swine, phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, free fatty acids, and triglycerides. Triglycerides were the predominant class of lipids in all cvs. analyzed. Fatty acids, qualitated and quantitated by gas chromatographic-mass spectral analysis, included palmitie (16:0), stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1), linoleic (18:2), and linolenic (18:3) adds. Quantities of individual and total fatty acids were significantly influenced (P> 0.05) by tree age. Within a uniform age class, quantities of individual and total fatty acids varied greatly and were significantly influenced by cultivar, year, and location as well as by interactions of main effects. The percent composition of individual fatty acids was stable in relation to total fatty acids in the sample, despite wide variation in quantities of fatty acids in different samples. Total fatty acids varied from 2.53% to 0.25% of dry weight. How this large variability in stored energy levels among pollen sources may affect orchard production is discussed.
, and bleeding or bladderiness. CI has been proposed to be an oxidative phenomenon linked to the production of ROS causing lipid peroxidation, membrane damage, and overall reduced capacity of antioxidant systems ( Hodges et al., 2004 ; Singh and Singh
Abstract
The study evaluated the roles of storage carbohydrates and neutral lipids in the success of Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens Englemann ‘Hoopsi’) grafts. These scions do not require photosynthesis nor receive photosynthates from the rootstock during union development. Carbohydrate and neutral lipid contents, along with respiration and scion water relations, were measured during union development. Stored carbon compounds were sufficient to supply the needs of the scion during the 9 weeks of union development. Estimates of carbohydrate use indicated that decreases in sugar content (bark and needle) were insufficient to account for more than 25% of the estimated respiration. The results indicate that the quantity of carbon storage compounds is not a factor in graft success. We propose that neutral lipids may be the major carbon reserve of the scion during graft formation.
Pollen from five cultivars of pecans [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch] was analyzed for cytoplasmic lipid classes and constituent fatty acids. Lipid classes in all cultivars included free fatty acids, triglycerides, and the phosphatide of inositol, serine, choline, glycerol, and ethanolamine. Triglycerides were the predominant class of lipids in all cultivars analyzed. Gas chromatography and mass spectral analysis were used to identify and quantify the fatty acids, which included palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic. Quantities of individual and total fatty acids varied greatly and were influenced significantly by cultivar, year, and location, as well as by interactions of main effects The percent composition of individual fatty acids was remarkably stable, despite wide variation in quantities of fatty acids. Therefore, pollen fatty acid ratios may be a valuable measure of taxonomic relationship across Carya sp. Total fatty acids varied from 2.53% to 0.25% of dry weight. Variability in stored energy in the form of lipids may affect orchard production.
Altered metabolism of membrane lipids has been proposed as a mechanism for the beneficial effects of postharvest calcium treatment on apple quality. A previous study showed that after transfer of apples stored 6 months at 0C to 20C, calcium-treated fruit exhibited slower loss of galactolipid and altered levels of sterol conjugates. The present study of lipids in “control” fruit was conducted as a prelude to further in-depth analyses of the effects of postharvest calcium and heat treatments on lipid metabolism in apples during and after cold storage. Neutral lipid, glycolipid (GL), and phospholipid (PL) fractions were obtained by column chromatography followed by TLC separation of GL and PL classes. The major GL were steryl glycosides (SG), acylated steryl glycosides (ASG), cerebrosides (CB), and mono- and digalactosyl diacylglycerols. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) > P-ethanolamine (PE) > P-irositol (PI) were the major PL. The fatty acids of PC and PE were quite similar, whereas those of PI were more saturated. CB included only 2-hydroxy fatty acids. Among the steryl lipids, free sterols > SG > ASG, with beta-sitosterol >90% of the total sterol in each.
Abstract
Asexual embryos of Theobroma cacao L. (cacao), initiated from zygotic embryos and grown in nutrient medium with increasing sucrose concentrations, synthesized lipids with fatty acid and triglyceride composition similar to those of zygotic embryos maturing in vitro. Oleo-palmitostearin, the major triglyceride in cocoa butter, was identified in developing asexual embryos cultured in vitro. In vitro culture of asexual embryos of cacao may be a feasible system for the production of cocoa butter.
Abscission is a natural plant process that culminates in the removal of organs from the parent plant. Control of abscission remains an important goal of agriculture, but events that initiate and transduce abscission signals have not been well defined. An understanding of these events may reveal pathways that can be targeted to control abscission. The compound 5-chloro-3-methyl-4-nitro-1H-pyrazole (CMNP) is a pyrazole-derivative that induces abscission selectively in mature citrus (Citrus sinensis) fruit when applied to the canopy. Peel contact is essential for efficacy. Previous work identified CMNP as an uncoupler. Timing of CMNP-induced events in citrus flavedo indicated that increased reactive oxygen species and electrolyte leakage occurred within 30 minutes and 2 hours after application, whereas reduced ATP content was measured 3 hours after application. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activities, and lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) levels increased in flavedo of citrus fruit peel treated with CMNP, indicating that the lipid signaling pathway was activated. A specific inhibitor of PLA2 activity, aristolochic acid (AT), reduced CMNP-induced increases in PLA2 and LOX activities and LPO levels in citrus flavedo and greatly reduced abscission, suggesting that production of phospholipid-derived signals influence abscission process. However, AT treatment failed to halt the reduction in ATP content, indicating that reduction in ATP preceded the increase in PLA2 activity and the biological response. The results demonstrate a link between lipid signaling and abscission in citrus.
Postharvest heat treatment of apples maintains fruit firmness and reduces decay during storage. Four days at 38C are beneficial, but 1 or 2 days are detrimental. The cellular basis of these effects may involve changes in cell wall and membrane lipid metabolism. Lipids from hypodermal tissue of `Golden Delicious' apples were analyzed after 0, 1, 2, or 4 days at 38C. Major lipids included phospholipids (PL), free sterols (FS), steryl glycosides (SG), and cerebrosides (CB). Galactolipids (GL) were minor components. PL content fell ?10% after 1 day at 38C, was unchanged after 2 days, and began to rise again after 4 days. PL class composition did not change with heating, but fatty-acid unsaturation declined throughout. FS and CB content and composition changed little, whereas SG content cropped by ≈20% over 4 days. GL fell ≈50% during 1 day at 38C, with no change at days 2 or 4. A burst of PL catabolism followed by recovery of synthesis may in part explain the different effects of 1-, 2-, or 4-day heat treatments. GL loss (in plastids) may be related to the effect of heat on fruit color (yellowing).
The glycolipids, phospholipids, and sterols were determined in normal and watercore-affected apple (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Delicious). Fruit with watercore contained higher amounts of glycolipids, phospholipids, and sterols. The ratios of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids and (18:3) to (18:1 + 18:2) were lower in watercore-affected tissue than in normal tissue. The ratio of free sterols to phospholipids was higher, whereas the ratio of phosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylethanolamine was lower in watercore-affected apple. Membrane lipids were altered in watercore-affected fruit.
A previous study of lipids from pericarp tissue of tomato fruit ranging from mature-green to red-ripe showed a large increase in total sterols accompanied by dramatic changes in sterol composition and conjugation with ripening. This study was conducted to determine whether similar changes occur in microsomal membranes derived from tomato fruit pericarp. Acylated steryl glycoside (ASG), the predominant steryl lipid, declined during ripening, with increases in steryl glycoside (SG) and free sterol (FS). Only minor changes in fatty acid composition were associated with the drop in ASG. The stigmasterol:sitosterol ratio increased throughout ripening, but much more in Fs than in SG or ASG. The ratio of FS to phospholipid (PL) increased with ripening. However, FS was never greater than 10 percent of the total membrane sterol (TMS), and TMS:PL actually declined over the middle stages of ripening. It is not known why tomato tissues maintain such high levels of ASG and SG, but sterol conjugation is thought to regulate the physical properties of cell membranes.