Changes of fatty acids and sterols in apple buds during bud break induced by a plant bioregulator, thidiazuron

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Abstract
The effects of N‐phenyl‐N'‐l,2,3,‐thidiazol‐5‐ylurea (thidiazuron; Dropp; SN 49537) on fatty acids of membrane lipids and sterol content in apple (Malus domestica Borkh cv. Golden Delicious) buds associated with bud break and bud development were determined. The predominant fatty acids in the membrane lipids of apple buds were palmitic acid (C16:0), linoleic acid (C18:2) and linolenic acid (C18:3). β‐Sitosterol and sitosteryl ester were the predominant sterols. An accumulation of unsaturated polar membrane fatty acids started after thidiazuron treatment. A decrease in the percentage of the sitosterol was accompanied by an increase in campesterol and stigmasterol at the beginning of rapid growth. An increase in the ratio of campesterol and stigmasterol to sitosterol and a decrease in the ratio of free sterols to membrane lipids upon breaking of dormancy also occurred in apple buds induced by thidiazuron.