Fatty acids in callus cultures: Stage of reversal in the proportion of unsaturated to saturated acids and of change in major components☆

Abstract The lipids of the cotyledon of Cucumis melo contain a large proportion of unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic acid as the major component, whereas those of cotyledon callus show a marked reduction in linoleic acid, an increase in linolenic acid and a predominance of palmitic acid which results in an increase in total saturated acids. The fatty acid compositions of total lipids in the cotyledons at different stages of seedling development, excised cotyledon tissue at different stages of callus initiation and in isolated callus show that the observed changes manifested in the established callus occur in the newly formed meristimatic cells as a result of the action of growth substances used for callus initiation.