A. Lavola, SOLUBLE CARBOHYDRATES AND SECONDARY PHYTOCHEMICALS IN BETULA AS AFFECTED BY SO2-POLLUTION, Water, air and soil pollution, 107(1-4), 1998, pp. 25-34
Seedlings of closely related birch species Betula pendula and B. resin
ifera, which have moderate similarity in their phytochemical compositi
on, were exposed to a SO2 concentration of 200 mu g m(-3) for 24 days
to detect their sensitivity and possible induced changes in the amount
of primary and secondary phytochemicals. The species deviated from ea
ch other in the production of biomass and phytochemicals. The SO2 poll
ution induced no changes in growth nor in the soluble sugar concentrat
ions in the species. However, the chromatographic analyses showed the
moderate reduction in the amount of antioxidative and defensive phenol
ics, i.e. myricitrin, (+)-catechin, 3,4'-dihydroxypropiophenone and pr
oanthocyanidins in both birch species. These results indicate more pro
nounced sensitivity of secondary metabolism to SO2 pollution compared
with primary metabolism, and the reduced tolerance of birches to other
oxidative air pollutants as well as to herbivores in polluted environ
ments.