Fatty acid composition of Pinaceae as taxonomic markers

Following our previous review on Pinus spp. seed fatty acid (FA) compositio ns, we recapitulate here the seed FA compositions of Larix (larch), Picea ( spruce), and Pseudotsuga (Douglas iir) spp. Numerous seed FA compositions n ot described earlier are included. Approximately 40% of all Picea taxa and one-third of Larix taxa have been analyzed so Car for their seed FA composi tions. Qualitatively, the seed FA compositions in the three genera studied here are the same as in Pinus spp., including in particular the same Delta5 -olefinic acids. However, they display a considerably lower variability in Larix and Picea spp. than in Pinus spp. An assessment of geographical Varia tions in the seed FA composition of P. abies was made, and intraspecific di ssimilarities in this species were found to be of considerably smaller ampl itude than interspecific dissimilarities among other Picea species. This ob servation supports the use of seed FA compositions as chemotaxonomic marker s, as they practically do not depend on edaphic or climatic conditions. Thi s also shows that Picea spp. are coherently united as a group by their seed FA compositions. This also holds for Larix spp. Despite a close resemblanc e between Picea and Larix spp. seed FA compositions, principal component an alysis indicates that the minor differences in seed FA compositions between the two genera are sufficient to allow a clear-cut individualization of th e two genera. in both cases, the main FA is linoleic acid (slightly less th an one-half of total FA), followed by pinolenic (5,9,12-18:3) and oleic aci ds. A maximum of 34% of total Delta5-olefinic acids is reached in L. sibiri ca seeds, which appears to be the highest value found in Pinaceae seed FA. This apparent limit is discussed in terms of regio- and stereospecific dist ribution of Delta5-olefinic acids in seed triacylglycerols. Regarding the s ingle species of Pseudotsuga analyzed so far (P. menziesii) its seed FA com position is quite distinct from that of the other two genera, and in partic ular, it contains 1.2% of 14-methylhexadecanoic (anteiso-17:0) acid. In the three genera studied here, as well as in most Pinus spp., the C-18 Delta5- olefinic acids (5,9-18:2 and 5,9,12-18:3 acids) are present in considerably higher amounts than the C-20 Delta5-olefinic acids (5,11-20:2 and 5,11,14- 20:3 acids).