Increased content of very-long-chain fatty acids in the lipids of halophyte vegetative organs

Qualitative and quantitative compositions of esterified fatty acids (FAs) in the total lipids from the leaves, shoots, and roots of halophile plants, such as suaeda (Suaeda altissima), samphire (Salicornia europaea), and wormwood (Artemisia lerchiana), collected in their natural environments were estimated by GLC techniques. It was shown that the vegetative organs of these halophytes contained 24 FA species, and 16 of them were tentatively identified as the very-long-chain FAs (VLCFAs). There were four VLCFA groups, viz. C₂₀, C₂₁, C₂₂, and C₂₃, each including saturated, mono-, and diunsaturated components; C₂₄ and C₂₅ FAs were also present. The concentration of VLCFAs in the total FAs comprised 4–64%. In vegetative organs of higher plants not subjected to genetic transformation, such a high VLCFA content was found for the first time. Saturated and even-numbered components predominated among the VLCFAs, and the roots exceeded severalfold the above-ground organs in the total VLCFA content. Possible pathways of VLCFA biosynthesis in plants, VLCFA content in the vegetative tissues, and the physiological role of membrane lipid FA composition in the plant salt metabolism are discussed.