Abstract: In order to explore lipid metabolism during peanut germination, the peanut cultivar ‘Huayu 30’ was germinated
in darkness at a constant temperature of 30 ℃ for 72 h, and sampled after every 12 h to determine the changes in crude fat
content, fatty acid composition, lipase, lipoxygenase (LOX), peroxide value (POV) and carbonyl group value (CGV) and
peroxidase (POD) activity. The results showed that the main fatty acids in peanut seed included palmitic acid, stearic acid,
oleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidic acid, arachidonic acid, erucic acid and lignoceric acid. Compared with non-germinated
peanut seed, the crude fat content of peanut seed was significantly decreased during germination (P < 0.05). Saturated
fatty acid content was reduced significantly after 36 h germination (P < 0.05). Palmitic acid content fell at the beginning of
germination and then kept constant, while lignoceric acid content rose significantly (P < 0.05). The content of unsaturated
fatty acid dropped at the beginning of germination and then rebounded gradually (P < 0.05). The contents of oleic acid
and arachidic acid ascended significantly (P < 0.05), whereas linoleic acid descended significantly (P < 0.05). The lipase
activity first increased significantly and then decreased. LOX activity reached the maximum level after 36 h germination and
then decreased significantly after germination for another 12 h. Peroxidase activity reached the maximum level after 48 h
germination and then did not change significantly. Peroxide value and carbonyl group value first increased significantly and
then decreased. Linoleic acid was positively correlated with either palmitic acid or stearic acid, and negatively correlated
with oleic acid, docosanoic acid or lignoceric acid. Oleic acid was positively correlated with either arachidonic acid or
lignoceric acid, and negatively correlated with palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid or arachidonic acid. Crude fat was
negatively correlated with lipase, POV, CGV or POD. Lipase activity was positively correlated with POV, CGV or POD.

Key words: peanut, germination, lipid metabolism