Cocobean Tissue Culture: Lipid Composition and Fatty Acid Metabolism

Abstract

Cocoabean callus cultures were established and grew satisfactorily on an agar medium for more than 2 yr. Cell suspension cultures were initiated from the callus. The fresh weight of cells increased over 20-fold in 14 days. The lipid content of callus and cells was 5.3 and 6.5%, respectively. The fatty acid composition of cocoa callus and cell suspension cultures resembled that of immature cocoabeans since they contained high amounts of linoleic acid. Stereospecific distribution of fatty acids in triglycerides from cocoa callus and cells was similar to that of ripe cocoabeans. Exogenous acetate and fatty acids were readily incorporated into lipids by cocoa cell suspension cultures. Exogenous stearic acid increased triglyceride content twofold but did not change fatty acid composition of triglycerides. Coconut water alone or in combination with sucrose also increased triglyceride content with a concomitant increase in oleic acid from 10% to 33% and a decrease in linoleic acid from 37% to 19%.

Somatic embryogenesis and plantlet regeneration ofTheobroma cacao

“…Somatic embryogenesis may be a promising approach for biochemical studies of cacao storage lipid biosynthesis (18). The potential of somatic embryogenesis may be exploited for in vitro production of seed metabolites such as lipids and flavors (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)14,(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)24,26). Exploitation of somaclonal variation (3,6) in combination with somatic embryogenesis, mutation, hybridization and other breeding techniques might be used to produce new cacao varieties which might be productive in warmer regions of the United States.…”

“…After the roots were developed, the somatic embryos were transferred to the MS (Murashige and Skoog, (13) agar medium containing 0.12 /iMabcisic acid ABA to induce normal growth.Fatty acid composition of somatic embryos Somatic embryos obtained from the previous experiments at the torpedo or later stage were transferred to Erlenmeyer flasks containing 45 ml hormone-free MS medium (13) with 0.5 g/liter of casein hydrolysate. After eight weeks the embryos were harvested and the fatty acid composition of these somatic and zygotic embryos, immature and mature, was determined by methods outlined(21,24).…”

Biotechnology and the fats and oils industry — An overview

“…Alternative applications of plant systems are under investigation. In particular, the possible use of in vitro cultures of callus tissue or cell suspensions (139)(140)(141) and asexual embryos (142,143) of cacao has been examined. The temperature of cultivation, among other factors, has been found to markedly influence the fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerol component (141,144).…”

Cocoa bean cell and embryo culture

“…Lipid compositions of these cells were analyzed in order to compare them with those of cocoa beans (11). As shown in Table I, immature cocoa beans (110 days after pollination) contained 11% total lipids which increased to a level of 54% in ripe beans.…”

“…Studies subsequently were directed to determining the change of total lipid content and fatty acid composition (Table II) during growth of suspension cells (11). There was no change observed in these lipid components.…”