VARIATION IN GROWTH AND SECONDARY PHENOLICS AMONG FIELD-CULTIVATED CLONES OF SALIX-MYRSINIFOLIA

Nine S. myrsinifolia clones were studied for secondary phenolics and p hytomass production in an old, unfertilized hayfield after the second growing season. S. myrsinifolia is one of the most promising willow sp ecies for the production of herbal drug material. Its salicylate conte nt is moderately high in all parts of the shoot. The leaf and stem phy tomass varied significantly among clones, but more than 70% of the tot al variation could be explained by within-clonal phytomass variation. Similarly, the accumulation of salicin, salicortin, chlorogenic acid ( +)-catechin, proanthocyanidins, and unknowns varied significantly acco rding to source (tissue, individual, or clone), and in most cases the environmental (within-clonal) variation was nearly as high as the gene tic variation (between-clones). In the selection of the best clones fo r the production of herbal drug material three main factors should be taken account: costs of cultivation, costs for transportation, and cos ts for production of extracts. A high phytomass clone may be a low-qua lity clone as far as salicylates are concerned.