Abstract:

A total 25 Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) varieties collected from different areas of China were used to study the composition and ratios of fatty acids in starch-surface-lipid (SSL). The results showed the SSL contained unsaturated fatty acid (UFA), accounting for 30%-50% and 60%-70%, and Saturated Fatty Acid (SFA), 30%-40% and 50%-70%. The SFA/UFA ratio of chestnuts from south variety population was lower than that of other two variety groups. The composition of two kinds of fatty acids was significant difference between different varieties, while no significant difference in the composition was found between different variety groups. C₁₆ and C₁₈ were two main fatty acids, and the former accounted for 15%-30%, among which saturated acid of C_16:0 was the main form, while the later accounted for 30%-70%, among which un-saturated acids of C_18:1 and C_18:2 were the main forms. The fatty acids of C_16:0, C_18:0 and C_18:1 were higher and C_16:1, C_18:2 and C_18:3 were lower in south variety group than other two variety groups, but no significant difference was found between different variety groups. Fatty acids of C₁₆ and C₁₈ between different variety groups were no obviously difference as well. In summary, the composition of fatty acids in starch-surface-lipid was closely related to the variety of chestnut and rarely related to variety group.

Key words: chestnut, starch, starch-surface-lipid, fatty acid, variety group