Intraspecific variation in leaf (poly)phenolic content of a southern hemisphere beech (Nothofagus antarctica) growing under different environmental conditions.

• Published in: Scientific Reports
• Main Authors: Mattera, Maria Gabriela, Gonzalez Polo, Marina, Peri, Pablo Luis, Moreno, Diego A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Nature 2024
• Subjects: Primary Forests; Infusion; Phenolic Compounds; Bosques Primarios; Nothofagus; Infusión; Compuestos Fenólicos; Non-timber Products; Chemical Profiling; Species-local Environment Interaction; Polyphenolic Compounds; Cinnamic Acids; Growing Conditions; Productos no Madereros; Perfiles Químicos; Interacción Especie-ambiente Local; Nothofagus antarctica; Ñire; Compuestos Polifenólicos; Acidos Cinámicos; Condiciones de Crecimiento; Región Patagónica; Argentina; Polo; Gonzalez; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/19952; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-69939-7; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-69939-7

Nothofagus antarctica (G.Forst.) Oerst. (Ñire) leaves are a valuable source of (poly)phenolic compounds and represent a high‑value non‑timber product from Patagonian forests. However, information on the variability of their chemical profile is limited or non‑existent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the (poly)phenolic variability in Ñire leaf infusions. To this end, different tree populations growing under different temperature regimes and soil characteristics were considered. Interestingly, a cup of Ñire leaf infusion could be considered as a rich source of quercetin. Significant differences in the (poly)phenolic content, especially in flavonoid conjugates and cinnamic acids, were found among the populations studied. These results suggest metabolic variability among the forests studied, which could be related to the species response to its growing conditions, and also provide some clues about the performance of N. antarctica under future climate scenarios. The N. antarctica forests growing in environments with lower frequency of cold and heat stress and high soil fertility showed better infusion quality. This study showed how a South American beech interacts with its local environment at the level of secondary metabolism. In addition, the information obtained is useful for defining forest management strategies in the Patagonian region. EEA INTA Bariloche Fil: Mattera, María Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina. Fil: Mattera, Maria Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina. Fil: Gonzalez Polo, Marina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina Fil: Gonzalez Polo, Marina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y ...