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Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) Leaves in Northern Europe Following Foliar Development and Along Environmental Gradients

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Abstract

Bilberry is a characteristic field layer species in the boreal forests and is an important forage plant for herbivores of the North European ecosystem. Bilberry leaves contain high levels of phenolic compounds, especially hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, catechins, and proanthocyanidins. We investigated the phenolic composition of bilberry leaves in two studies, one following foliar development in forest and open areas, and the other along a wide geographical gradient from south to north boreal forests in Finland. An analysis of bilberry leaves collected in open and forest areas showed that major phenolic changes appeared in the first stages of leaf development, but, most importantly, synthesis and accumulation of flavonoids was delayed in the forest compared to the high light sites. Sampling along a geographical gradient in the boreal zone indicated that leaves from higher latitudes and higher altitudes had greater soluble phenolic and flavonol levels, higher antioxidant capacity, and lower contents of chlorogenic acid derivatives. The ecological significance of the results is discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank K. Mikkola for providing background information for site selection, R. Nielsen and M. Weissman for technical help, and J. Hyvönen for statistical advices. We are indebted to everyone involved in the sampling that was done in connection with the BioSoil project (Finnish Forest Research Institute). This work was supported by the European Commission, Regional Development Fund (project “Mette” number 70025/05), the Lapland Regional Fund of the Finnish Cultural Foundation (to F. M.), the Kone Foundation, Finland (to F. M.), and the Academy of Finland (grant no 09141 to L. J.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Finnish Forest Research Institute, Rovaniemi Unit, P.O. Box 16, FI-96301, Rovaniemi, Finland

    Françoise Martz & Sari Stark

  2. Department of Biology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 3000, FI-90014, Oulu, Finland

    Laura Jaakola

  3. Natural Product Research Laboratories, Faculty of Biosciences, University of Joensuu, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Riitta Julkunen-Tiitto

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  1. Françoise Martz
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  2. Laura Jaakola
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  3. Riitta Julkunen-Tiitto
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  4. Sari Stark
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Correspondence to Françoise Martz.

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Martz, F., Jaakola, L., Julkunen-Tiitto, R. et al. Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) Leaves in Northern Europe Following Foliar Development and Along Environmental Gradients. J Chem Ecol 36, 1017–1028 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-010-9836-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-010-9836-9

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