title: Stage-specific metabolization of triacylglycerols during seed germination of Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A detailed study was carried out on Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) to investigate the mobilization of storage lipids during seed germination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thin layer chromatography analysis of the total lipids showed a rapid decline in the triacylglycerol (TAG) and diacylglycerol (DAG) contents after the early stages (3-10 days after imbibition (DAI)) followed by a steady breakdown during the later stages (20 and 30 DAI) of germination. Trace amounts of monoacylglycerols (MAG) were identified during the final stage (30 DAI). Further, gas chromatography analysis showed an increase in the major unsaturated fatty acid (linoleic and linolenic) content from 3 to 10 DAI followed by a slow decline. In addition, the major saturated fatty acid (palmitic and oleic) content showed a decrease during the early stages (3-10 DAI) and an increase during the later stages (20 and 30 DAI).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides the first report on the metabolization of TAG along with fatty acid changes during the seed germination of Sacha Inchi.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Plant Resource and Sustainable Use, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 88 Xuefu Road, Kunming, 650223, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
authors.forename: Umashankar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Chandrasekaran
authors.forename: Aizhong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D019665:Euphorbiaceae; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis; D018525:Germination / Q000502:physiology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004075:Diglycerides; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D014280:Triglycerides
keywords: Sacha Inchi; fatty acids; gas chromatography; seed germination; triacylglycerols