Rosin from Pinus pinaster Portuguese forests shows a regular profile of resin acids

Abstract

Pinus pinaster forestry occupies >20% of the forest ecosystem area in the continental territory of Portugal with a high impact on the national economy. This species’ major derived non-wood product is oleoresin, the raw material for rosin production. Rosin comprises mainly a blend of resin acids and has broad industrial and pharmaceutical applications. Oleoresin production in Portugal has been progressively reduced due to low-cost producers in other countries; currently, it reaches only 2% of the existing P. pinaster trees. To support this value chain, the chemical fingerprint of rosin derived from the national forest requires focused analysis. In the present study, we collected oleoresin within seven geographically distinct pure P. pinaster forests in two consecutive collection years. A high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method was used to quantify the diversity of resin acids in the corresponding rosin samples. Overall, the acquired data highlighted that the profile of resin acids in P. pinaster rosin produced in Portugal is highly regular, regardless of the forest location, having as the major constituents abietic acid and dehydroabietic acid. The diversity of resin acids is possibly influenced, to a minor extent, by some edaphoclimatic factors.

Geographic and Climatic Variation in Resin Components and Quality of Pinus oocarpa in Southern Mexico Provenances

“…In addition, the essential oil profile of P. peuce resin was positively correlated with bioclimatic parameters, which was not the case for P. heldreichii Christ [34]. On the other hand, the diversity of resin acids in P. pinaster was also related to mean annual temperature, while the temporal variation in these acids was related to maximum wind intensity [57]. The identification of clinal variation in turpentine content due to geographic and climatic factors in Pinus oocarpa populations may be useful in conservation and genetic improvement programs [35].…”

“…In this study, rosin percentage, water percentage, and acidity and saponification indices did not present significant correlation with geographic and climatic variables possibly because these resin characteristics may have greater genetic control independent of climatic fluctuations [34,52]. On the other hand, it is possible that these characteristics of P. oocarpa resin are related to the geological substrate, type and texture of the soil, such as the composition of essential acids in P. heldreichii [34] and the diversity of resin acids in P. pinaster [57]. In Michoacán, Mexico, it was determined that chromic luvisol soil type is related to higher resin production of P. oocarpa [16].…”