Analysis and evaluation of seed kernel oil content and fatty
acid components of Acer truncatum in Central China
Minhao Han1,2, Liping Yan1,*, Yan
Liang1, Yinhua Wang1, Fei
Ren1, Dejun Wu1
(1. Shandong Academy of Forestry Sciences/ Shandong Provincial Key
Laboratory of Forest Genetic Im-provement, Shandong Jinan 250014, China;
wel2080@163.com (M.H.); 1755851513@qq.com (Y.L.); wyh_0322@163.com
(Y.W.); lkrenfei@163.com (F.R.); sdlky412@163.com (D.W.)2. Shandong
Agicultural University, Shandong Taian 271000, China. * Correspondence:
ylp_982@163.com; Tel.: +86-13156103091
Abstract: In order to
screen out the high-oil Acer truncatum germplasm resources so as
to improve the yield and value of seed oil, this experiment was carried
out by analyzing and evaluating a total of 70 samples from natural
populations of A. truncatum in nine Central Plains of China, the
results were subjected to nested ANOVA and correlation analyses, as well
as a comprehensive evaluation of the various groups using principal
component analysis and the affiliation function method. The findings
demonstrated that the 70 samples ranged in seed kernel oil content from
14.43% to 50.11% (average 33.11%), and that the major fatty acid
fractions had coefficients of variation that ranged from 24.13% to
33.40%, with differences between them being significant. According to
correlation analysis, latitude, temperature, and precipitation had a
greater impact on the seed kernel oil content than they did on the
relative content of fatty acid fractions. Altitude, temperature, and
precipitation were the primary causes of changes in the content of fatty
acid fractions. The principal component analysis reduced the nine
indexes to two principal components with a cumulative contribution rate
of 84.29%, and ranked them according to the comprehensive evaluation
value obtained from the principal component analysis and the
transformation of the affiliation function. The analysis screened out
the ten germplasm samples with the highest comprehensive quality and the
three samples with the highest comprehensive evaluation value.
Keywords: Acer
truncatum ; oil content; fatty acid components; neuric acid; correlation
analysis
Introduction
Acer truncatum Bunge is a
widely used ornamental tree species throughout the world, with lovely
leaves and graceful posture. In recent years, A. truncatum has
also been found to have high medicinal value; its seeds contain nearly
27% of the protein and eight essential amino acids, and its oil is rich
in unsaturated fatty acids, with a content of more than
90%[1-3]. Neurotic acid, also known as shark’s
acid, is a long-chain unsaturated fatty acid found in seed kernel oil
that has been shown to improve cellular vitality, restore the activity
of brain cell endings, and have a therapeutic effect on memory loss,
cerebral palsy, and other cerebral disorders, as well as a skin
whitening effect[4-6]. Since it is difficult to
extract, expensive, and low yield, neurotic acid is typically only
obtained from the deep-sea brains of sharks and other mammals. However,A. truncatum seed oil has a high concentration of neurotic acid
(up to 4%–9%), which represents a significant new source for the
sustainable use of neurotic acid [7-9].
Liu Xiangyi et al [10] analyzed 12 fatty acids
from A. truncatum seeds and concluded that the unsaturated fatty
acid content of A. truncatum oil reached more than 92%, making
it suitable for use as a high-quality raw material in the manufacturing
of nutritional and therapeutic oils. Wei Ming et al[11] found 44.3% oil and 16 fatty acids in the
seed kernels of A. truncatum in Jiangyou, Mianyang. Qiao Q et al[12] examined 138 A. truncatum seed oils
from 14 A. truncatum populations around China and found an
average oil content of 28.57% and a fatty acid level of 5.76%. Wu
Longkun et al [13] collected and analyzed A.
truncatum seed oil from the Changwu area of Liaoning province, found 12
fatty acids, and evaluated the optimal experimental conditions, yielding
the greatest oil production of 30.5%. By using fatty acid spectrum
profiling and physicochemical testing, Ke Zhang et al[14] were able to identify the constituents and
quality of A. truncatum oil. They were able to identify 18 fatty
acids, of which the neurotic acid concentration may reach 8%, and
3.51% of flavonoids that can be employed as anti-alcohols. During the
maturity phase of A. truncatum seeds, a total of 17 fatty acid
components were found by Dai Yanman[15] et al.
They came to the conclusion that by testing the seeds at various times
throughout the year, the A. truncatum seed kernels would achieve
their peak oil and fatty acid concentration by the end of October.
There are currently more studies on woody oilseed species with high oil
content and unique components, but there are few studies comparing the
oil content and fatty acid composition of seed kernels among populations
of A. truncatum . In order to lay a theoretical foundation for the
selection and breeding of high-oil A. truncatum germplasm,
samples from natural A. truncatum populations in the Central
Plains of China were collected and their variations in oil content and
fatty acid components of seed kernels were analyzed. By providing a
theoretical framework for the selection and breeding of high-oilA. truncatum genetic resources, this study aims to advance the
growth of the A. truncatum oil industry.
Materials and Methos
Plant Materials
A total of 70 samples were obtained from nine natural populations ofA. truncatum in the provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, and Shaanxi
through field surveys of the species’ range. The samples were obtained
in October when the fruits of the A. truncatum became ripe and
yellowish-brown, and they were then allowed to naturally dry in the
shade for three to five days after harvesting, and then peeled off the
skin by hand to obtain pure seeds for the analysis and determination of
seed kernel oil content as well as fatty acid fractions. Each sampling
site’s latitude, longitude, and altitude were noted, and the remaining
meteorological factors were confirmed with the local meteorological
agency while the samples were gathered were numbered and catalogued
(Table 1).
Table
1 Geographical location and climatic conditions of 9 collection sites ofAcer truncatum