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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #303127
Title: Flavonol content, oil %, and fatty acid composition variability in seeds of Teramnus labialis and T. uncinatus accessions with nutraceutical potential

Author
item Morris, John - Brad
item Tonnis, Brandon
item Wang, Ming

Submitted to: Journal of Dietary Supplements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2014
Publication Date: 7/24/2014
Citation: Morris, J.B., Tonnis, B.D., Wang, M.L. 2014. Flavonol content, oil %, and fatty acid composition variability in seeds of Teramnus labialis and T. uncinatus accessions with nutraceutical potential. Journal of Dietary Supplement. doi: 10.3109/19390211.2014.937048.

Interpretive Summary: Teramnus labialis is used as food in India and T. uncinatus is used primarily for forage. Very little information about seed numbers and chemicals in Teramnus species is available. Twenty-five accessions of T. labialis and T. uncinatus were grown in the greenhouse from 2010-2011. Mature seed from each of 25 accessions were evaluated for seed numbers, flavonol content, oil %, and fatty acid compositions. Seed numbers ranged from 16 to 3792 and flavonol content ranged from 0 to 2.228 mg/g. Seed oil ranged from 2.65 to 5.64 % and fatty acids ranged from 0.08 to 41.44 %. These Teramnus accessions will provide farmers and researchers with valuable sources of high amounts of flavonol, oil, and fatty acids.

Technical Abstract: Teramnus labialis and T. uncinatus are both underutilized legume species. Teramnus labialis is used as food in India while T. uncinatus has potential use in pasture mixes. Photoperiod-sensitive Teramnus accessions were grown in the greenhouse from 2010 to 2011 and evaluated for flavonol content, oil %, and fatty acid compositions. Significant variations for seed numbers produced, flavonol content, oil %, and fatty acid compositions were detected. Seed numbers ranged from 16 to 3792 in both species. Teramnus accessions produced more quercetin (ranging from 0.615 to 2.228 mg/g) in their seeds than the other flavonols. However kaempferol and isorhamnetin content ranged from 0 to 0.066 and 0 to 0.086 mg/g (dry seed weight basis), respectively among all accessions. Oil % ranged from 2.65 to 5.64 % and more oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids ranging from 6.69 to 25.97, 31.82 to 41.44, and 17.7 to 32.66 %, respectively were produced among all Teramnus accessions. The seeds from all Teramnus accessions also produced the least saturated fatty acid compositions (ranging from 0.08 to 15.36 %). Several significant correlations were also detected for these traits among the accessions. Quercetin showed highly significant positive correlations with kaempferol (r = 0.59, P < 0.0001), oil % (r = 0.58, P< 0.0001), and oleic acid (r = 0.31, P < 0.001). Quercetin also showed a significant negative correlation with linoleic acid (r = -0.49, P < 0.0001). 0.0001). These correlations are important because useful breeding procedures could be conducted on improving flavonol, oil %, and fatty acid compositions in Teramnus labialis and T. uncinatus accessions.