Aspen Bibliography

Within- and between-year variation in early season phytochemistry of quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) clones

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Biochemical Systematics and Ecology

Volume

28

Issue

3

First Page

197

Last Page

208

Publication Date

2000

Abstract

We quantified changes in phytochemistry of ten Populus tremuloides clones from leaf-out to mid-summer. Significant time, clone and time × clone effects were observed for all phytochemicals measured. Foliar nitrogen and water concentrations declined throughout the period and little inter-clonal variation was observed. Condensed tannin concentrations increased over time and inter-clonal variation was substantial. Patterns for phenolic glycoside concentrations were more complex: depending upon clone, concentrations were highest in the beginning, middle or end of the period monitored. For ten clones sampled in two consecutive years, concentrations of phytochemicals were highly correlated between years, suggesting that the phytochemical profiles of aspen clones are predictable year-to-year. The apparent temporal decline in food quality (e.g., decreases in foliar water and nitrogen and increases in condensed tannins) and diverse temporal patterns in concentrations of phenolic glycosides provide a mosaic of host quality for folivores throughout the spring and early summer.

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