Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the differences in the nutrient composition of the seed oils of wild Camellia oleifera with different single grain masses grown in different regions in order to find suitable geographical origins of camellia seeds for oil production and to provide a basis for the introduction and domestication of camellia seeds. Wild camellia seed samples from 10 regions, including Huangshan in Tangkou, Daling village in Huoshan county, Yuanbao Mountain in Rongshui county and Hengkou village in Xianfeng county, were classified into three categories of single grain mass: below 0.35 g, 0.35–0.8 g, and above 0.8 g. The seed oils from these samples were compared for their nutrient composition. The oil contents of all samples were determined by the solvent method to be between 29.9% and 46.11%. A total of 26 fatty acids were detected by gas chromatography (GC). All samples were determined to contain 0.031-0.149 mg/g of α-tocopherol by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), 0.056–0.256 mg/g of olefin, 0.166–0.351 g/g of tea saponin by the phenol-sulfuric acid method. From a regional perspective, the oil content of camellia seeds from Mountain Emei was the highest, reaching 43.74%, while the lowest oil content of 32.86% was found in camellia seeds from Daling village. Among the three categories of single grain mass, the average oil content of camellia seeds between 0.35 and 0.8 g was the highest, and those below 0.35 g and above 0.8 g were similar, 36.28% and 36.74%, respectively. Among the 26 fatty acids, oleic acid (71.156%–78.515%) was dominant, followed by palmitic acid (8.091%–12.096%) and linoleic acid (2.621%–10.618%). The content of α-tocopherol was the highest in camellia seeds from Emei Mountain and the lowest in Yuanbao Mountain among the 10 regions. The content of α-tocopherol in camellia seeds below 0.35 g was the highest, followed by those between 0.35 and 0.8 g, and the lowest value was noted in camellia seeds above 0.8 g. The content of squalene in camellia seeds from Daling village was the highest, and the lowest in Banruo village among the 10 regions. The content of squalene in camellia seeds below 0.35 g was the highest, followed by those between 0.35 g and 0.8 g, and the lowest value was detected in camellia seeds above 0.8 g. The content of tea saponin was the highest in camellia seeds from Emei Mountain and the lowest in Huangliantai. The content of tea saponin in camellia seeds above 0.8 g was the highest, followed by those below 0.35 g, and the lowest value was measured in camellia seeds between 0.35 g and 0.8 g. The results showed that the quality of camellia seeds varied among regions and among single grain masses. The oil contents of camellia seeds from Emei Mountain, Banruo Temple and Maoer Mountain were higher. α-Tocopherol and tea saponin were richer in camellia seed oils from Emei Mountain, Banruo Temple and Tangkou, while the contents of squalene in camellia seed oils from Daling village, Huangliantai and Emei Mountain were higher. Camellia seeds with a lower single grain mass contained higher levels of alpha-tocopherol and squalene.

Key words: wild camellia seeds, area, grain mass, quality