Fatty acid patterns of the seed oils of some Lathyrus species L. (Papilionideae) from Turkey, a chemotaxonomic approach

Seed oils of 16 Lathyrus (Fabaceae) species belonging to different sections viz., Cicercula, Orobastrum, Orobon, Platystylis, Lathyrus and Pratensis were investigated for their fatty acid composition with g-as liquid chromatography. Unsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic and oleic acid comprised more than 50 % of seed oil. The fatty acid composition of the studied Lathyrus taxa were found as identical qualitatively, but some quantitative differences were observed ill infrasectional and interspecific level. Linoleic acid was found major component as unsaturated fatty acid (average 48 %). Oleic and linolenic acid were the second highest major unsaturated fatty acid components. On average, palmitic acid was the major saturated acid present (average 14 %). Lathyrus species showed linoleic - palmitic acid type FA patterns. Similar conclusions were detected in the sectional classifications of Lathyrus sp., as reported earlier. The results obtained from this study were discussed with the genera and family patterns. Some differences were determined in the main type fatty acid in family patterns in particular Subfamily Mimosoideae and Caeselpinioideae. Chemotaxonomic and renewable resources implications of the components of fatty acids and plant taxa are discussed.