Oleic Acid and Its Positional Isomer,cis-Vaccinic Acid,in the Appendix of Sauromatum guttatum during Anthesis

The fatty acid profiles of various organs of the thermogenic inflorescence of Sauromatum guttatum and of the sporophylls of thermogenic male cones of two cycad species (Encephalartos ferox and Dioon edule var edule and var angustifolium) were determined by gas chromatography. During anthesis, palmitate (16:0), oleate [18:1 (9)], cis-vaccinate [18:1 (11)], and linoleate [18:2 (9, 12)] were the most abundant fatty acids in the Sauromatum appendix. cis-Vaccinic acid, a positional isomer of oleic acid, was identified by comparing its retention time on a gas chromatography column and its mass spectrum to an authentic compound. The percentage of oleic acid from total fatty acids dropped from about 9 in the morning 3 d before heat production to 6 in the morning 2 d before heat production. At this time, the percentage of cis-vaccinic acid increased from 3 to 11%, and then remained at this level until the inflorescence dried and died. Palmitoleic acid [16:1 (9)], the common precursor of cis-vaccinic acid, is a minor component of total fatty acids. In six other organs of the Sauromatum inflorescence including thermogenic organs, such as male flowers and lower spadix, palmitate, oleate, and linoleate were prevalent but cis-vaccinate was not. The thermogenic male cones of the two cycad species were rich in palmitic, oleic, and linolenic acids. The level of cis-vaccinic acid in these organs was less than 0.5%.