Cadmium induced alteration in lipid profile of developing mustard (Brassica juncea L.) seed

The present study reports the effect of cadmium on lipid composition of developing mustard seeds. The result revealed that the lipid composition was affected appreciably by increasing cadmium doses. Total and non-polar lipids decreased regularly with increasing doses of cadmium (10, 20, 30 and 40 ppm). Among total lipids, a positive correlation was found between saturated fatty acid (R2=0.81, palmitic acid; R2=0.71, stearic acid) and cadmium concentration. However, unsaturated fatty acids (R2=0.69, oleic acid; R2=0.89, linoleic acid; R2=0.84, linolenic acid) were found to be decreasing with increasing concentration of cadmium. Cadmium induces increase in palmitic acid (R2=0.82, polar lipids; R2=0.83, non-polar lipids), stearic acid (R2=0.87, polar lipids; R2=0.92, non-polar lipids) and oleic acid (R2=0.66, polar lipids; R2=0.62, non-polar lipids). Cd induced increase in the saturated/unsaturated ratio indicates that either the synthesis or activity of olelyl-CoA desaturase enzyme was affected significantly.