Fatty acid composition of gametophytes of Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Tod. (Onocleaceae, Polypodiophyta)

Abstract

Fern gametophytes are considered as a convenient model for biotechnological studies. Ferns produce arachidonic (20:4n-6, ARA) and eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3, EPA) fatty acids, which have biological effects in the human body. The aim of this study was comparison of fatty acid composition of gametophytes cultivated in vitro and young fronds of sporophytes grown outdoors of the fern Matteuccia struthiopteris (L.) Tod. The fatty acid composition was not different in gametophytes and sporophytes, but their content varied. Gametophytes contained more ARA (9.5 % of total fatty acids) and less EPA (0.6 %) as compared with sporophytes (5.4 % and 3.3 %, respectively). Both gametophytes and sporophytes contained potential metabolic precursors of ARA and EPA. With exception of some minor components, distribution of fatty acids in lipid fractions (non-polar, glyco- and phospholipids) was similar for sporophytes and gametophytes. Thus, gametophytes of M. struthiopteris can be a potential model for studies of ARA and EPA biosynthesis in ferns.