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 calli and embryogenic tissues was studied. The embryogenic tissues were characterised by a higher content of triglycerides and total phospholipids than non‐embryogenic calli. Neutral lipids (NL) from embryogenic tissues akppeared less saturated than NL from non‐embryogenic calli. Somatic embryogenesis was associated with considerable proportions of linoleic acid in both NL and phosphatidylcholine (PC) (23% in NL and 60% in PC), together with high proportions of palmitic acid in phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidylinositol (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 results suggest differences between the lipid biosynthetic pathway of embryogenic tissues when compared with that of non‐embryogenic calli.