Comparison of fatty acid composition in seed kernels of tea plant ( Camellia sinensis ), between conventional cultivars and albino cultivars

Woody plants are important sources of edible oil, and the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is a new option. In this study, the contents and composition of fatty acids in seed kernels of 10 conventional cultivars and 4 albino cultivars were analyzed and compared by GC-MS. A total of 22 fatty acids were identified. The main fatty acids were oleic acid (C18:1Δ9) (9.1051–15.0670%), linoleic acid (C18:2Δ9,12) (3.6386–7.7231%), and palmitic acid (C16:0) (2.3660–3.9445%), respectively. The ratio of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids of albino cultivar “Zhonghuang 2” (ZH No.2) was 1.00:2.67:1.85, of which the proportion of MUFAs was significantly lower than those of most conventional cultivars and albino cultivar “Suyuhuang”. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the chemical constituents before the development and utilization of tea seeds, especially for albino cultivars. Furthermore, ZH No.2 could be chosen as parent for improving the fatty acid composition of tea seeds in the breeding project.