LIPID METABOLISM IN GERMINATING BARLEY

Abstract

Ungerminated barley contains approximately 2% of petroleum-ether extractable lipid, one-third of which is restricted to the embryo. Analysis of the fatty acids of barley lipid by reversed-phase chromatography has shown the presence of 52% of linoleic, 28% of oleic and 11% of palmitic acid; small amounts of stearic, myristic and linolenic acids are also found. There is a variable decline in fat during malting, and malt fat is considerably depleted in the unsaturated C1B adds, oleic and linoleic. The slight rise in free fatty acids between barley and malt does not suffice to account for the loss of esterified material, which is rapidly metabolized by the developing seedling.