Fatty acid composition of total lipids in embryogenic and nonembryogenic callus lines of larch

Abstract

Fatty acid (FA) composition of total lipids in embryogenic and nonembryogenic calli of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) was investigated by the method of GC-MS. We detected a high content of oleic acid in total lipids of embryogenic cell culture (32–56% by weight of total FA), which apparently depends on a high activity of acyl carrier protein (stearoyl-ACP-Δ9-desat-urase). At the same time, activity of Δ12-desaturase in the cells of embryogenic calli was considerably (2–3 times) lower than in nonembryogenic calli. We discuss a possibility that concentration of FA (oleic and linoleic acids) may be used as a marker of embryogenic potential when promising cell lines of Siberian larch are screened in the stage of early embryogenesis.