Abstract
Malania oleifera (Olacaceae), a tree species endemic to Southwest China, has seed oils enriched with nervonic acid and is therefore good source of this chemical. Because of this, there are promising industrial perspective in the artificial cultivation and use of this species. Understanding the variability in the fruit characters among individuals forms the basis or resource prospection. In the current investigation, fifty-three mature fruiting trees were sampled from two locations with divergent climates (Guangnan and Funing). Morphological characterization of fruits (fruit and stone weight, fruit transverse and longitudinal diameter, stone transverse and longitudinal diameter) was conducted, and the concentration of seed oil and its fatty acid composition were also analyzed in all individuals. Differences in all the morphological characters studied were more significant among individual trees than between different geographic localities, even though these had different climates. Eleven fatty acids were identified contributing between 91.39 and 96.34% of the lipids, and the major components were nervonic acid (38.93–47.24%), octadecenoic acid (26.79–32.08%), docosenoic acid (10.94–17.24%). The seed oil content (proportion of oil in seed kernel) and the proportion of nervonic acid were both higher in Funing, which has a higher average climatic temperature than Guangnan. The concentrations of nervonic acid and octadecenoic acid with the low coefficients of variation in the seed oil of M. oleifera were relatively stable in contrast to the other fatty acids. There were significant positive correlations between fruit morphological characters, but the amount of seed oil and the concentrations of its components were not correlated with any morphological character. This study provides an understanding of morphological variation in wild M. oleifera individuals. Wild individuals with excellent fruit traits could be selected and would make promising candidates for commercial cultivation.
Highlights
Malania oleifera (Olacaceae), a tree species endemic to Southwest China, has seed oils enriched with nervonic acid and is good source of this chemical
The seed oil content from trees growing in Funing was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that from trees growing in Guangnan
Eleven fatty acids were identified from the seed oil, and the three present in the largest amounts were nervonic acid, octadecenoic acid and docosenoic acid, together representing 73–92% of the total seed oil in individuals
Summary
Malania oleifera (Olacaceae), a tree species endemic to Southwest China, has seed oils enriched with nervonic acid and is good source of this chemical. China has one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world, and has very high levels of plant endemism[8] These endemic plant species have great potential as novel bio-resources. M. oleifera is a good candidate for the discovery and development of nervonic acid resources because of its seed oils, which are enriched in this chemical[18]. Artificial cultivation through domestication to replace wild resources would be an effective approach both for the conservation and the sustainable utilization of M. oleifera, as well as for the commercial use of this species. For artificial selection and cultivation of successful varieties, the fruiting characteristics of wild individual trees are necessary, and the character variability in M. oleifera individuals remains unknown
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