Abstract
Chemotaxonomic relationships in Onagraceae have been investigated at the level of leaf and flower compounds but not for seed traits. The objective of this study was to characterize a set of 26 accessions (25 species, 7 genera) of this family for seed oil content, fatty acid composition, tocopherol content and composition, and to evaluate the chemotaxonomic implications of the results. The accessions showed a large variation for all the traits. Gamma-linolenic acid was exclusively found inOenotheraspp. where two groups, showing different concentrations of gamma-linolenic acid and alpha-tocopherol, were observed. The species ofClarkiaPursh were markedly different to the rest of species, showing low alpha-linolenic acid and low gamma-tocopherol concentration.Circaea lutetianaL. had a characteristic tocopherol profile, with high levels (13%) of beta-tocopherol. Variation for fatty acid and tocopherol composition inEpilobiumspp. suggested some phylogenetic relationships. The annual speciesE. paniculatumNutt. showed a characteristic composition very similar to the closely relatedBoisduvalia densiflora(Lindl.) S. Watson. The accessions of the phylogenetically relatedE. fleischeriHochst. andE. dodonaeiVillalso showed similar fatty acid and tocopherol composition. The results of this study suggest a potential chemotaxonomic value of seed fatty acids and tocopherols in Onagraceae.
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