Foliar and cortex oleoresin variability of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Albania

Terpene composition of needle and cortical oleoresin from lateral shoots we re analyzed by GC/MS for four Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) populations sca ttered in natural species range in Albania. More than sixty compounds were detected in the needle oleoresin, which was characterized by a high content of alpha -pinene, camphene, beta -pinene, limonene and bornyl acetate. Thr ee monoterpenes, alpha -pinene, beta -pinene and limonene, and two sesquite rpenes, beta -caryophyllene and germacrene D, comprised the majority of cor tical oleoresin. The terpene composition differences among the populations that led to the recognition of two chemotypes. The needle oleoresin from th e provinces of Puka, Bulqiza and Llogara were characterised by high amounts of beta -pinene, camphene and alpha -pinene and low amounts of limonene, w hile that from Drenova had high amounts of beta -pinene and limonene. A sim ilar pattern was found in the cortical oleoresin with the exception of camp hene that was a minor contributor. Geographical and seasonal variation betw een the populations was, also, investigated. Multivariate analysis of both needle and cortical oleoresin separated Drenova (southeastern population) f rom the other sites. When both major monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were c onsidered four chemical profiles could be attributed. Based on their chemic al profiles, the populations can be divided into two groups: Populations with high content of beta -pinene and alpha -pinene but a low c ontent of limonene (Puka, Bulqiza and Llogara), typical of most of A. alba populations in all its distribution range. Population with a high content of limonene and a moderate content of beta - pinene and alpha -pinene (Drenova).