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Accumulation of Free Ricinoleic Acid in Germinating Castor Bean Endosperm ¹

^a Thimann Laboratories, University of California, Santa Cruz, California 95064

Lipids from the endosperm of germinating castor bean (Ricinus communis var. Hale) were separated by thin layer chromatography and quantitated by gas chromatography. During the later stages of lipid breakdown (4-6 days germination at 30 C), several lipid classes were found in addition to the storage triglycerides, which are triricinoleins for the most part. One was identified as free ricinoleic acid, the proportion of which increased as germination progressed. After 6 days germination, ricinoleic acid comprised more than 30% of the total lipid. The appearance of this fatty acid implies that lipase activity (lipolysis) is not strictly coordinated with oxidation in this tissue.

¹ This work was supported by Energy Research and Development Administration Contract 04-3-34.