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Abietoid seed fatty acid composition—A review of the genera Abies, Cedrus, Hesperopeuce, Keteleeria, Pseudolarix, and Tsuga and preliminary inferences on the taxonomy of Pinaceae

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Lipids

Abstract

The seed fatty acid (FA) compositions of Abietoids (Abies, Cedrus, Hesperopeuce, Keteleeria, Pseudolarix, and Tsuga) are reviewed in the present study in conclusion to our survey of Pinaceae seed FA compositions. Many unpublished data are given. Abietoids and Pinoids (Pinus, Larix, Ficea, and Pseudotsuga)—constituting the family Pinaceae—are united by the presence of several Δ5-olefinic acids, taxoleic (5,9–18∶2), pinolenic (5,9,12–18∶3) coniferonic (5,9,12,15–18∶4), keteleeronic (5,11–20∶2), and sciadonic (5,11,14–20∶3) acids, and of 14-methyl hexadecanoic (anteiso-17∶0) acid. These acids seldom occur in angiosperm seeds. The proportions of individual Δ5-olefinic acids, however, differ between Pinoids and Abietoids. In the first group, pinolenic acid is much greater than taxoleic acid, whereas in the second group, pinolenic acid is greater than or equal to taxoleic acid. Moreover, taxoleic acid in Abietoids is much greater than taxoleic acid in Pinoids, an apparent limit between the two subfamilies being about 4.5% of that acid relative to total FA. Tsuga spp. appear to be a major exception, as their seed FA compositions are much like those of species from the Pinoid group. In this respect, Hesperopeuce mertensiana, also known as Tsuga mertensiana, has little in common with Abietoids and fits the general FA pattern of Pinoids well. Tsuga spp. and H. mertensiana, from their seed FA compositions, should perhaps be separated from the Abietoid group and their taxonomic position revised. It is suggested that a “Tsugoid” subfamily be created, with seed FA in compliance with the Pinoid pattern and other botanical and immunological criteria of the Abietoid type. All Pinaceae genera, with the exception of Pinus, are quite homogeneous when considering their overall seed FA compositions, including Δ5-olefinic acids. In all cases but one (Pinus), variations from one species to another inside a given genus are of small amplitude. Pinus spp., on the other hand, have highly variable levels of Δ5-olefinic acids in their FA compositions, particularly when sections (e.g., Cembroides vs. Pinus sections) or subsections (e.g., Flexiles and Cembrae subsections from the section Strobus) are compared, although they show qualitatively the same FA patterns characteristic of Pinoids. Multicomponent analysis of Abietoid seed FA allowed grouping of individual species into genera that coincide with the same genera otherwise characterized by more classical botanical criteria. Our studies exemplify how seed FA compositions, particularly owing to the presence of Δ5-olefinic acids, may be useful in sustaining and adding some precision to existing taxonomy of the major family of gymnosperms, Pinaceae.

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Abbreviations

anteiso-17∶0:

14-methylhexadecanoic

FA:

fatty acid

FAME:

fatty acid methyl esters

GLC:

gas-liquid chromatography

UPIFA:

unsaturated polymethylene-interrupted fatty acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut des Science et Techniques des Aliments de Bordeaux, Université Bordeaux 1, Talence, France

    Robert L. Wolff, Frédérique Pédrono, Elodie Pasquier & Frédéric Destaillats

  2. Institut National d'Ingéieurs des Techniques Agricoles, Université Bordeaux 1, Talence, France

    Oliver Lavialle

  3. Laboratoire de Chimie des Substances Végétales, Institul du Pin, Université Bordeaux 1, Talence, France

    Anne M. Marpeau

  4. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Université Laval, Sainte Foy, Québec, Canada

    Frédéric Destaillats & Paul Angers

  5. Daily Research Center, Université Laval, Sainte Foy, Québec, Canada

    Frédéric Destaillats & Paul Angers

  6. Bundesanstalt für Getreide-, Kartoffel- und Fettforschung, Institute for Chemistry and Physics of Lipis, Münster, Germany

    Kurt Aitzetmüller

Authors
  1. Robert L. Wolff
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  2. Oliver Lavialle
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  3. Frédérique Pédrono
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  4. Elodie Pasquier
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  5. Frédéric Destaillats
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  6. Anne M. Marpeau
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  7. Paul Angers
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  8. Kurt Aitzetmüller
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Correspondence to Robert L. Wolff.

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Wolff, R.L., Lavialle, O., Pédrono, F. et al. Abietoid seed fatty acid composition—A review of the genera Abies, Cedrus, Hesperopeuce, Keteleeria, Pseudolarix, and Tsuga and preliminary inferences on the taxonomy of Pinaceae. Lipids 37, 17–26 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-002-0859-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-002-0859-5

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