Differences and Correlations of Morphological Characteristics and Fatty Acid Profiles of Seeds of Toona sinensis

Toona sinensis (A.Juss.) M.Roem., a multi‐purpose tree of Meliaceae, is widely distributed and intensively cultivated in Asia, yet its high yielding, lipid‐rich seeds are rarely exploited. The present study systematically analyzed the differences and correlations of seed morphological characteristics and fatty acid (FA) profiles of 62 representative T. sinensis germplasms distributed across northern to southern China. T. sinensis seeds were rich in total FAs (TFA, 107.03–176.18 mg/g). Additionally, linoleic acid (54.69–100.59 mg/g), α‐linolenic acid (ALA, 22.47–45.02 mg/g), oleic acid (OA, 5.12–23.94 mg/g), palmitic acid (6.87–14.14 mg/g), stearic acid (SA, 3.13–6.57 mg/g) and elaidic acid (1.70–2.88 mg/g) were the major FAs measured by GC/MS analysis. Size (average width of 3.94±0.01 mm and length of 5.79±0.02 mm) and mass (average thousand‐seed weight of 10.52±0.17 g) were greater in T. sinensis seeds collected south than north of 30° latitude. These traits were also positively correlated with unsaturated FA content and negatively related to SA and saturated FA contents (P