Chemotaxonomic investigations of Larix species in Central Yakutia

This paper presents a chemotaxonomic investigation of three larch species: Cajander larch (Larix cajanderi), Siberian larch (Larix sibirica), and Gmelin larch (Larix gmelinii). We examined the metabolomic profiles obtained through gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry detector of various plant organs, including needles, bark, and cones of Larix sibirica, Larix gmelinii, and Larix cajanderi. The objective of this study was to identify species-specific biochemical characteristics and their correlation with environmental growth conditions. Plant samples were collected under controlled conditions from the Botanical Garden of the Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone SB RAS. The results of our study indicate that L. gmelinii and L. cajanderi share similar metabolic profiles, as revealed by principal component analysis (PCA). This finding suggests a biochemical similarity between the two species, which may reflect their related ecological adaptations to the environmental conditions of Central Yakutia. In contrast, Larix sibirica was observed to form a distinct cluster, thereby confirming its unique identity and differences in metabolic profile. The metabolomic analysis indicated that environmental factors, including soil conditions, humidity, and temperature, have a more pronounced impact on the chemical composition of the needles and bark of these species than their taxonomic distinctions. These results highlight the importance of considering environmental factors when investigating the taxonomy and differentiation of Larix species. Furthermore, this research opens new avenues for further exploration in the field of environmental biochemistry concerning coniferous woody plants. This study may serve as a foundational reference for future investigations into metabolomics and chemotaxonomy in relation to plant adaptation to changing environmental conditions.

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