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Ontogeny and Environment as Determinants of the Secondary Chemistry of Three Species of White Birch

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Abstract

This study investigates variation in the secondary chemistry of the bark of three closely related, winter-dormant species of white birch (Betula resinifera, B. pendula, and B. platyphylla) at different ontogenetic stages by using different plant parts (top and base). The experimental birches were grown for 4 years in two growing conditions (pot and field) at different nutrient levels. There was considerable species-specific quantitative and qualitative variation in the secondary chemicals in bark, but this was also affected by fertilization and the age of the plant. In general, there was greater chemical diversity in saplings than in seedlings. The study revealed three new components, secoisolariciresinol 9-O-β-glucopyranoside and two of its derivatives, that have not been reported previously for the bark of white birches. Principal component analysis showed that the species studied had a similar chemical composition at the juvenile stage, but as the plants grew, they became more clearly differentiated, which indicates that the species of older plants can be identified by chemotaxonomy. Evidently, the secondary chemistry of birches is under genetic control, but it is affected by properties of growing conditions and ontogeny.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the staff of Punkaharju Forest Research Station for helpin growing and measuring the plant material. We thank Anneli Kurkkio, Irma Lantto, Outi Nousiainen, and Sinikka Sorsa for help with the laboratory work. Sincere thanks are due to Joann von Weissenberg and Kenneth Meaney for grammar revisions. This study was supported by the Graduate School of Forest Sciences, which is funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and by the Finnish Centre of Excellence Program 2000–2005, Centre for Excellence for Forest Ecology and Management, project no. 64308.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Joensuu, P.O. Box 111, Fin-80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Jaana Laitinen, Riitta Julkunen-Tiitto & Jorma Tahvanainen

  2. Punkaharju Research Station, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Fin-58450, Punkaharju, Finland

    Matti Rousi

  3. Joensuu Research Centre, Finnish Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 68, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Jaakko Heinonen

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  1. Jaana Laitinen
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  2. Riitta Julkunen-Tiitto
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Correspondence to Jaana Laitinen.

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Laitinen, J., Julkunen-Tiitto, R., Rousi, M. et al. Ontogeny and Environment as Determinants of the Secondary Chemistry of Three Species of White Birch. J Chem Ecol 31, 2243–2262 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-005-7100-5

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