CHEMOSYSTEMATIC DIFFERENTIATION OF QUERCUS-ILEX AND Q-ROTUNDIFOLIA BASED ON ACORN FATTY-ACIDS

Acorns from 48 individual Quercus ilex and Q. rotundifolia trees from eight locations in Italy and Spain were sampled and analysed for the composition of fatty acids. Among fatty acids oleic acid was most abundant (40-70%) in all populations, palmitic and linoleic acids were found in intermediate amounts (10-25%) and stearic and linolenic acids in small amounts (1-5%); myristic, palmitoleic, arachidic, 11-eicosenoic, and behenic acids were found in amounts below 0.5% or in traces. Significant differences between Italian and Spanish populations were found in percentages of palmitic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and total unsaturated acids. Principal component analysis resulted in a partial separation of the individual populations as well as of Q. rotundifolia (Spain) and Q. ilex (Italy).