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

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 20050 - 11
• Main Authors: Mattera, M. Gabriela, Gonzalez-Polo, Marina, Peri, Pablo L., Moreno, Diego A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 29-08-2024; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/449; 631/449/1870; 631/449/2661; 631/449/2667; 631/449/2668; Chemical profiling; Cinnamic acid; Environmental conditions; Fagus - growth & development; Fagus - metabolism; Flavonoids; Flavonoids - analysis; Flavonoids - metabolism; Forest management; Forests; Heat tolerance; Humanities and Social Sciences; Leaves; multidisciplinary; Non-timber products; Nothofagus antarctica; Patagonian Ñire; Phenols; Phenols - analysis; Phenols - metabolism; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Population studies; Quercetin; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Soil - chemistry; Soil characteristics; Soil fertility; Soil temperature; Species-local environment interaction; Temperature; Patagonian Ñire; Chemical profiling; Species-local environment interaction; Non-timber products
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 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.