The leaf lipids of some conifer species

Abstract

Conifer leaf lipids contain, in addition to the fatty acids found in angiosperms, a series of polyunsaturated acids with Δ5 olefinic unsaturation. All the species contain Δ5 C20 acids and the members of the family, Pinaceae, contain, in addition a series of C18 Δ5 acids. Significant amounts of a saturated C17 branched-chain acid were present in many of the species. The distribution of polyunsaturated acids among certain lipid classes was investigated and it was found that C16 and C18 polyunsaturated acids with ω3 unsaturation are concentrated in the galactosyl diglycerides. © 1971.