Analysis Of Physico-chemical Properties Of The Seeds From A Natural Torreya Population In Huizhou, Anhui

Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii is the only variety of Torreya grandis and has a high economic value. Individual trees of Torreya grandis in a natural population differ greatly from each other. Therefore, there is a great potential to select germplasms close to or even better in quality than Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii and enrich varieties in this species. This is the significance of this paper.With the seeds of Torreya grandis collected from a natural population located in Xiaorong Village, Chengkan Town, Huizhou District, Huangshan City of Anhui Province as samples, the vertical diameter, horizontal diameter and weight of the seed with and without outer peel were measured, based on which both the percentage of the seed without peel and that of kernel were calculated. Meanwhile oil content, total sugars, starches, proteins and microelements were also tested. The results showed that there were abundant variations in the natural population. Variations in physical traits were expressed in weight (single seed with or without peel). The seed percentage was significantly in negative correlation with the horizontal diameter. Individual trees, whose seeds were longer in length and smaller in diameter, had a higher rate of fresh seeds. The oil content of all samples was less than that (54.62%) of Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii, which led to a poorer taste, but the content of starches, proteins, Cu, Zn, K, and Ni in all the samples was higher than the average (4.14-7.12%,11.92-16.03%,4.02mg/kg,12.70mg/kg,1.18%and1.71%) of Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii. As compared with Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii,11trees had a high content in Mn (that of T grandis cv. Merrillii is14.73mg/kg);77ones in Cr (that of T. grandis cv. Merrillii is0.23mg/kg); only1in As (that of T. grandis cv. Merrillii is0.10mg/kg); and4ones in Pb (that of T. grandis cv. Merrillii is0.06mg/kg). Most of individual trees were free of harmful elements such as As, Cd, and Pb, which indicated that trees in a natural population had a good growing environment with little pollution.The results showed that there was a potential for multi-target-oriented selection and breeding of elite trees as well as nutritional development in Torreya grandis. It is expected to breed new, desired varieties by combining selective breeding with hybridization, which will result in changes in the situation in which there is only one variety---Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii.