title: The embryo and the endosperm contribute equally to argan seed oil yield but confer distinct lipid features to argan oil.
abstract: In the perspective of studying lipid biosynthesis in the argan seed, the anatomy, ploidy level and lipid composition of mature seed tissues were investigated using an experimental design including two locations in Algeria and four years of study. Using flow cytometry, we determined that mature argan seeds consist of two well-developed tissues, the embryo and the endosperm. The lipid content of the embryo was higher than that of the endosperm, but the dry weight of the endosperm was higher. Consequently, both tissues contribute equally to seed oil yield. Considerable differences in fatty acid composition were observed between the two tissues. In particular, the endosperm 18:2 percentage was twofold higher than that of the embryo. The tocopherol content of the endosperm was also markedly higher than that of the embryo. In contrast, the endosperm and the embryo had similar sterol and triterpene alcohol contents and compositions.
authors: Laboratoire des Productions, Valorisations Végétales et Microbiennes, Département de Biotechnologie, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d'Oran Mohamed Boudiaf, B.P. 1505, El M'Naouar, Oran 31000, Algeria; IRD, UMR DIADE, 911 Av. Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France.
authors: Kheira
authors: K
authors: Errouane
authors: IRD, UMR DIADE, 911 Av. Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France.
authors: Sylvie
authors: S
authors: Doulbeau
authors: IRD, UMR DIADE, 911 Av. Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France.
authors: Virginie
authors: V
authors: Vaissayre
authors: IRD, UMR DIADE, 911 Av. Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France; ERL IRD-CNRS 5300, 911 Av. Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Leblanc
authors: IRD, UMR DIADE, 911 Av. Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France.
authors: Myriam
authors: M
authors: Collin
authors: Laboratoire des Productions, Valorisations Végétales et Microbiennes, Département de Biotechnologie, Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d'Oran Mohamed Boudiaf, B.P. 1505, El M'Naouar, Oran 31000, Algeria.
authors: Meriem
authors: M
authors: Kaid-Harche
authors: IRD, UMR DIADE, 911 Av. Agropolis, BP 64501, 34394 Montpellier, France. Electronic address: stephane.dussert@ird.fr.
authors: Stéphane
authors: S
authors: Dussert
mesh_terms: D056625:Endosperm / Q000737:chemistry*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000032:analysis*; D029632:Sapotaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000196:embryology; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000032:analysis; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D008055:Lipids; D010938:Plant Oils; D014810:Vitamin E; C555574:argan oil; D024505:Tocopherols
keywords: Argan; Embryo; Endosperm; Fatty acids; Seed; Sterols; Tocopherols; Triterpene alcohols