Hydrocarbon constituents of the wax coatings of plant leaves: A taxonomic survey (original) (raw)
Related papers
Discriminant analysis of leaf wax alkanes in the Lamiaceae and four other plant families
Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 1994
Leaf wax n-alkanes and iso-alkanes were determined in several species of the Lamiaceae and used as chemotaxonomic characters. These alkane classes were also determined in species belonging to Boraginaceae, Verbenaceae, Solanaceae and Scrophulariaceae and the results were compared to those obtained from the Lamiaceae. The plot of area percentages of some n-alkanes and iso-alkanes provided a good partition both inside the Lamiaceae and among the five different families examined. Discriminant analysis provided a much deeper insight into pattern partition confirming the chemotaxonomic usefulness of leaf wax alkanes. The data obtained for Lamiaceae are also discussed with regard to different systematic subdivisions of the family.
Hydrocarbons of leaf epicuticular waxes of Pilocarpus (Rutaceae)
Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 1998
The hydrocarbon patterns of the foliar epicuticular waxes of 11 species of Pilocarpus (Rutaceae) are presented. P. jaborandi has a unique pattern of wax hydrocarbons, due to the presence of relatively high amounts of 1-phenyl-5-vinyl, 5,9-dimethyl-decane. Most species presented either C or C as main n-alkanes and they may be distinguished by the two most abundant alkanes of each distribution. Two varieties and three subspecies of P. spicatus were studied, which can be characterized by their alkane patterns. A cluster analysis using UPGMA splits the samples analyzed into three groups: (a) two samples of P. jaborandi, both with the aromatic hydrocarbon as main constituent; (b) species with either a predominance of C or a wide distribution of n-alkanes; (c) species with C as main n-alkane. If the aromatic hydrocarbon is not considered, UPGMA splits the samples into two major clusters, with a branching pattern very similar to the previously described analysis, except for the inclusion of the three samples of P. jaborandi in close proximity into a cluster shared also by P. microphyllus and P. trachylophus.
Molecular n-alkyl leaf waxes of three dominant plants from the temperate forest in South America
The n-alkyl leaf waxes of the temperate forest of South America are poorly studied, despite being a biogeographically isolated forest spanning wide environmental conditions. To evaluate whether local species adaptation and environmental changes influence the n-alkyl leaf wax composition, we measured the molecular abundance and distribution of n-alkyl leaf waxes (n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanes and n-alkanols) of three dominant native species from southern temperate forest in South America. We surveyed Araucaria araucana (n = 9), Nothofagus dombeyi (n = 17) and Chusquea sp. (n = 21) at different elevations. The relationship of n-alkyl leaf wax abundance and distribution with elevation is not significant in any species, except for n-alkane ACL (average chain length) in Chusquea sp. Significant correlations are found for n-alkanoic acid abundance with precipitation and aridity in Chusquea sp. and n-alkane abundance and ACL with temperature in A. araucana. These data suggest a species-specific response to environmental variables. The main similarity in the three species is a higher abundance of n-alkanoic acids (>60%) relative to other n-alkyl leaf waxes. Only n-alkanols are not correlated to any environmental variable, and neither ACL nor C max overlap among species. These results suggest n-alkanols as a potential chemotaxonomic indicator at a lower taxonomic level in the region.
Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 1996
The chemotaxonomic significance of leaf wax n-alkanes was studied in 112 species and cultivars belonging to the Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, Podocarpaceae, Araucariaceae, Cephalotaxaceae, Sciadopityaceae and Taxaceae (Pinales). In general, n-alkanes ranged from 18 to 34 carbon numbers. In the Pinales, C 31 was the most abundant n-alkane (20.17%±1.68), followed by C 27 (2.84%±0.41), C 29 (2.59%±0.49) and C 25 (2.41%±0.22). In the Araucariaceae, n-alkane composition was characterized by low relative percentages of C 31 (5.23%±1.58), whereas the Cephalotaxaceae were characterized by high percentages of C 29 (31.95%±2.05) and C 27 (28.00%±1.00). The Cupressaceae had a mean composition of n-alkanes characterized by moderate percentages of C 31 (18.31%±2.32) and C 33 (5.36%±1.07), whereas in the Pinaceae, C 31 was the main n-alkane (25.40%±2.56). The Podocarpaceae were characterized by moderate percentages of C 29 (12.69%±9.16), C 31 (10.77%±2.70), C 27 (7.37%±5.83) and C 33 (6.59%± 5.71), whereas the Taxaceae had high percentages of C 31 (34.94%±7.85). Sciadopitys verticillata showed low percentages of all n-alkanes. Discriminant Analysis (DA) of the Araucariaceae, Cupressaceae and Pinaceae showed a good discrimination among subfamilies. Cluster Analysis (CA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) performed on species of the Pinales, showed a good separation among the families. The direct comparison of the present data with those obtained on species belonging to eleven angiosperm families provided further evidence of the chemotaxonomic significance of leaf wax n-alkanes.
Hydrocarbons and wax esters from seven species of mangrove leaves
Phytochemistry, 1987
species of fresh mangrove leaves were found to contain saturated normal and branched chain hydrocarbons, mostly between CL6 and C&, with both odd and even carbon numbers. Significant quantitative variations were found between species. Wax esters were found to contain fatty acids with chain lengths between C1 z and Czz. Palmitic (16: 0) and stearic (18: 0) acids were the major component saturated fatty acids, whereas, oleic (18: 1) and linolenic (18: 3) acids were the major unsaturate a-acids. Chain lengths of the alcohols of wax esters were between C,* and Cs,. Significant quantitative and minor qualitative differences were noted in the alcohol composition of wax esters. Hydrocarbon and wax ester compositions were character&d by the presence of low M, components in high proportions.
Chemotaxonomic significance of leaf wax n-alkanes in the Pinales (Coniferales)
J. Biol. Res, 2004
The chemotaxonomic significance of leaf wax n-alkanes was studied in 112 species and cultivars belonging to the Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, Podocarpaceae, Araucariaceae, Cephalotaxaceae, Sciadopityaceae and Taxaceae (Pinales). In general, n-alkanes ranged from 18 to 34 carbon numbers. In the Pinales, C 31 was the most abundant n-alkane (20.17%±1.68), followed by C 27 (2.84%±0.41), C 29 (2.59%±0.49) and C 25 (2.41%±0.22). In the Araucariaceae, n-alkane composition was characterized by low relative percentages of C 31 (5.23%±1.58), whereas the Cephalotaxaceae were characterized by high percentages of C 29 (31.95%±2.05) and C 27 (28.00%±1.00). The Cupressaceae had a mean composition of n-alkanes characterized by moderate percentages of C 31 (18.31%±2.32) and C 33 (5.36%±1.07), whereas in the Pinaceae, C 31 was the main n-alkane (25.40%±2.56). The Podocarpaceae were characterized by moderate percentages of C 29 (12.69%±9.16), C 31 (10.77%±2.70), C 27 (7.37%±5.83) and C 33 (6.59%± 5.71), whereas the Taxaceae had high percentages of C 31 (34.94%±7.85). Sciadopitys verticillata showed low percentages of all n-alkanes. Discriminant Analysis (DA) of the Araucariaceae, Cupressaceae and Pinaceae showed a good discrimination among subfamilies. Cluster Analysis (CA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) performed on species of the Pinales, showed a good separation among the families. The direct comparison of the present data with those obtained on species belonging to eleven angiosperm families provided further evidence of the chemotaxonomic significance of leaf wax n-alkanes.
Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 2020
Foliar epicuticular waxes of specimens of 13 Croton species native in Brazil were extracted. The fractions containing alkanes and primary alcohols were isolated by preparative thin layer chromatography. Derivatized nprimary alcohols were identified by gas chromatography (GC) coupled with mass spectrometry and n-alkanes by GC and comparison with known standards. Relative abundances were estimated by GC coupled with flame ionization detector. The distribution of constituents of both classes was analyzed by cluster analysis, using the UPGMA method and Euclidean distances. The chemical affinities among species were compared with published data of molecular phylogenetic relationships. The distribution of n-alkanes and primary alcohols were shown to be useful markers of Croton species. Primary alcohols were more consistent than n-alkanes for species fingerprinting.
Use of palmae wax hydrocarbon fractions as chemotaxonomical markers in Butia and Syagrus
Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2009
The wax hydrocarbon fractions of native Butia and Syagrus species collected from Palms in different regions of the of Rio Grande do Sul state (Brazil) and in Rocha (Uruguay) were analyzed to evaluate their potential as chemotaxonomic markers. The wax was extracted with chloroform and the resulting wax was fractionated by preparative TLC. The hydrocarbon fractions were analyzed by GC-MS. Statistical analyses were completed with the Statistica 5.0 program. The total crude wax yields averaged 0.31% w.w-1 dried leaves for Butia samples and 0.28% for Syagrus samples. The linear hydrocarbons represented on average 15% of the total waxes in the case of Butia samples and 13.7% in Syagrus samples. Hentriacontane and triacontane were the main components of all samples. The comparison of the means showed significant differences among Butia and Syagrus samples, and amongst Butia samples collected in different localities. In the case of the Syagrus collections no consistent groupings could be made. In the case of Butia samples the formation of three groupings could be observed, which were consistent with the species described for their geographical distribution. These results are discussed in the paper.
Alkane distribution in epicuticular wax of some solanaceae species
Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 1994
Alkane distribution patterns were determined in the epicuticular wax of 20 species of Solanaceae. Most species are characterized by the predominance of tritriacontane and hentriacontane. Their use as possible taxonomic markers is also discussed.