Fatty Acids Variation in Seed of Eucommia ulmoides Populations Collected from Different Regions in China

Abstract

Fruits of 240 Eucommia ulmoides Oliver individuals were collected from 12 different geographical regions across a wide area of China. The seed oil content ranged from 28.54% in Guilin and Lueyang to 31.35% in Chaoyang. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of the seed oil revealed that linolenic acid (56.68–60.70%), oleic acid (16.31–17.80%), and linoleic acid (11.02–13.32%) were the major components, and the oil showed good potential for the food and health care industries. Three levels (high, medium, and low) of linolenic acid and oil content were observed among the 12 populations according to principal component analysis. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that environmental factors had a large influence on oil content and fatty acids composition and explained 89.33% of the total variance. Latitude and precipitation were key environmental factors and were significantly correlated with the fatty acid composition of E. ulmoides seeds.