Fruit photosynthesis and lipid biosynthesis in olives

Abstract

Tissue slices from maturing olive (Olea europaea, cv. Picual) fruits were able to incorporate radiolabelled bicarbonate into glycerolipids, including triacylglycerols, an activity which is light dependent and concentrated in the epicarp. Both ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carbosylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase were detected in extracts from olive pulp : the former being concentrated in the epicarp and the later equally distributed between epicarp and mesocarp. Studies on the fatty acid synthetase in the soluble fractions from epicarp and mesocarp showed higher especific activity in the extract from the epicarp, as well as important differences in the pattern of fatty acids formed.