Comparison of Fatty Acid Composition of Lipids in Seeds of Several Salvia Species (Lamiaceae)

The fatty acid composition of seed lipids was studied in several sage Salvia L. (Lamiaceae) species introduced in the Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. A significant variation in the fatty acid content of seed lipids was observed in the species. The average content of palmitic acid was approximately 7% in all but one species, S. tomentosa Mill. (0.12%) being the only exception. Seeds of S. aethiopis L., S. sclarea L., S. deserta Schang, and S. pratensis L. were found to be rich in α-linolenic acid (>40%). The linoleic acid content ranged from 17.3% in S. aethiopis to 64% in S. officinalis L. and S. tomentosa. The proportion of fatty acids was shown to be species specific. The contribution of the genotype (species) to the variability of major fatty acids ranged from 62 to 98%; therefore, the contribution of meteorological conditions ranged 2-38%.