Composition of n‐Alkanes in Natural Populations of Pinus nigra from Serbia – Chemotaxonomic Implications

Abstract

This is the first report on the composition and variability of the needle-wax n-alkanes in natural populations of Pinus nigra in Serbia. Samples of 195 trees from seven populations belonging to several infraspecific taxa (ssp. nigra, var. gocensis, ssp. pallasiana, and var. banatica) were analyzed. In general, the size of the n-alkanes ranged from C(16) to C(33) , with the exception of ssp. nigra, for which it ranged from C(18) to C(33) . The most abundant were C(23) -, C(25) -, C(27) -, and C(29) -alkanes. The needle waxes of Populations I-III and V were characterized by a higher content of C(23) -, C(25) -, and C(27) -alkanes and a lower content of C(24) -, C(26) -, C(28) -, and C(30) -alkanes, compared to the other populations, and the trees of these populations could be assigned to ssp. nigra. The samples of Population VI were characterized by higher amounts of C(22) -, C(24) -, C(30) -, and C(32) -alkanes and lower amounts of C(25) - and C(27) -alkanes, and the trees could be considered as ssp. pallasiana. The samples of Population VII, consisting of trees belonging to var. banatica, were richer in C(29) -, C(31) -, and C(33) -alkanes. The wax compositions of Populations IV and V, both composed of trees previously determined as P. nigra var. gocensis, showed a tendency of splitting. Indeed, the alkane composition of Population IV was closer to that of ssp. pallasiana pines, while that of Population V was more similar to that of ssp. nigra pines. From the results presented here, it is obvious that in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, significant diversification and differentiation of the populations of black pine exists, and these populations could be defined as different intraspecific taxa. Our results also indicate the validity of n-alkanes as chemotaxonomic characters within this aggregate.

Geographically Related Variation in Epicuticular Wax Traits of Pinus nigra Populations from Southern Carpathians and Central Balkans – Taxonomic Considerations

“…Interestingly, Bojović et al . detected short‐chain n ‐alkanes (C 16 – C 20 ) in P. nigra needle waxes, although with the smallest amount comparing to mid‐ and long‐chain n ‐alkanes. In the investigated P. nigra needles, the most abundant wax compounds were the four odd numbered n ‐alkanes C 27 , C 25 , C 23 , and C 29 (mean contents of 19.7, 18.1, 10.8, and 10.2%, resp.…”

“…Predomination of the same four n ‐alkanes in P. nigra needle waxes was also reported by Bojović et al . , but in slightly different order (C 25 , C 27 , C 29 , and C 23 ). Moreover, these four n ‐alkanes appear to be common in different Pinus species, e.g.…”

“…Based on n ‐alkane pattern, Bojović et al . revealed three distinct P. nigra chemotypes on the territory of Serbia: nigra , pallasiana , and banatica suggesting that Banat black pine deserves the status of a separate taxon (probably at the rank of subspecies), which is closer to the Crimean black pine (subsp. pallasiana ) than to the typical subspecies (subsp.…”

“…Bearing in mind the unclear taxonomic position of Banat black pine and the results of previous phytochemical studies , the basic idea in this study was to extend the study area to the entire central Balkans and especially to include the classical locality ( locus classicus ) of Banat black pine from Romania. Thus, in this study, we selected the population from Mt.…”

Chemotaxonomic Approach to the Central Balkan Sedum Species Based on Distribution of Triterpenoids in Their Epicuticular Waxes

“…As the results of previous studies have shown, all mentioned compounds could be used in chemotaxonomy as more or less relevant biomarkers in order to understand relations between plant members at different levels of plant classification. By improving the analyzing techniques (primarily GC/MS and NMR), as well as the methods of data processing (multivariate statistical analyses), a lot of chemotaxonomic studies have been used to identify and quantify wax components to prove or improve the existing classification within studied taxonomic rank . Since a lot of taxonomy studies were interested in wax constituents as reliable taxonomic markers, triterpenoids have taken a special place for many reasons.…”