The influence of environmental condition on the creation of organic compounds in Pinus sylvestris L. rhizosphere, roots and needles

Abstract

Key message Studied organic molecules in Pinus sylvestris L. seem to have acted as a safety net for metal transport, chelation and sequestration, allowing adaptation and growth under highly polluted conditions. Abstract Pinus sylvestris L. is known for its ability to survive in areas of highly elevated metal pollution, such as flotation tailings. The aim of the study was to estimate the content of selected organic molecules (including aliphatic low molecular weight organic acids (ALMWOAs), phenolic compounds and terpenes) and the physiological mechanisms underlying differences in metal/metalloid tolerance of P. sylvestris growing in unpolluted (soil) and polluted (flotation tailings) areas. The dominant ALMWOAs in rhizosphere soil extracts were citric acid followed by malic and oxalic acids, whereas in flotation tailings malic and oxalic acids. In roots and needles, the content of ALMOWAs was significantly higher in P. sylvestris L. tissue from flotation tailings in comparison to soil. Phenolic compounds were detected only in roots and needles, with a generally higher content of nearly all detected compounds from flotation tailings. The composition of roots did not contain all the compounds detected in needles. The profile of needles additionally contained four hydroxybenzoic, protocatechuic and salicylic acids. In pine needles, 24 volatile terpenes were identified in total. The content of these compounds in pine needles from the polluted area was markedly different from the unpolluted area. The dominant volatile monoterpenes in P. sylvestris L. needles from the unpolluted area was three carene, while in pine needles from the polluted area monoterpenes α-pinene was dominant.

Seasonality Affects Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Acids and Phenolic Compounds’ Composition in Scots Pine Litterfall

“…Concentrations of organic acids have been observed to increase in needles with increasing temperature [6] and in polluted soil environments [17], suggesting their role in needle maintenance and repair from heat stress. However, our understanding of the variability in secondary metabolites in Scots pine needles in natural forest ecosystems is not well documented, nor do we have a clear understanding of the influence of tree age or season on this variation.…”

Seasonality but Not Tree Age Determines Secondary Plant Metabolite Composition in Scots Pine Needles

“…Concentrations of organic acids have been observed to increase in needles with increasing temperature (Churakova et al 2019) and in polluted soil environments (Magdziak et al 2021), suggesting their role in needle maintenance and repair from heat stress.. However, our understanding of the variability in secondary metabolites in Scots pine needles in natural forest ecosystems is not well documented, nor do we have a clear understanding of the in uence of tree age or season on this variation.…”

Heavy Metals and Sulphur in Needles of Pinus sylvestris L. and Soil in the Forests of City Agglomeration

“…The most important of them are α-Pinene, δ-3-carene, germacrene-4-ol, and bornyl acetate. The main sesquiterpenes are β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, δ-cadinene, γ-cadinene, germacrene D-4-ol, cubenol and α-cadinol [4,5]. Research has shown that essential oil exhibits antiparasitic, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-allergenic, anti-viral, anti-spasmodic properties, as well as insecticidal and larvicidal properties [6,7].…”