Variation of Yield and Fatty Acid Content in Camellia reticulate
Choosing three natural communities and three artificial communities as study targets, the yields and fatty acid contents of Camellia reticulate were studied. The results showed that the differences of yield and fatty acid content between natural Camellia reticulate and planted individuals were not significant. Whereas, within three studied natural communities or three artificial communities, the variation in both oil yield and fatty acid content existed to different extents. Among the natural communities, the variation coefficient of linoleic acid and individual yield were as high as 182. 33 % and 96. 16 % respectively. There existed extremely significant differences among all the six studied Camellia reticulate communities on oil yield, variation of fatty acid composition existed as well. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the correlation between the contents of oleic acid and linoleic acid was low. As a whole, the correlation between oil yield and the contents of oleic acid and linoleic acid was low. Based on the this study, it was suggested that in selecting and breeding of Camellia reticulate, the natural community was the promising resource, and deserved to be given more attention than artificial communities.