Piperidine alkaloids in North American Pinus taxa: implications for chemosystematics

• Published in: Biochemical systematics and ecology Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 63 - 74
• Main Authors: Gerson, Elizabeth A, Kelsey, Rick G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2004
• Subjects: 2,6-Disubstituted piperidine alkaloids; Biosynthesis; chemical composition; chemical constituents of plants; Chemotaxonomy; Pinaceae systematics; Water stress; Chemotaxonomy; Biosynthesis; Water stress; 2,6-Disubstituted piperidine alkaloids; Pinaceae systematics
• DOI: 10.1016/S0305-1978(03)00174-1
• ISSN: 0305-1978

Foliage samples from 10 taxa of the genus Pinus occurring in Mexico and the southwestern US were extracted for piperidine alkaloids. Eight ( P. cembroides, P. durangensis, P. engelmannii, P. leiophylla, P. leiophylla var. chihuahuana, P. lumholtzii, P. monophylla, and P. ponderosa) contained alkaloids; only a trace was detected in P. ponderosa var. arizonica; and no alkaloids were found in P. discolor. Relative concentrations of the two end products of piperidine synthesis were consistent among taxa within subsections: the Leiophyllae produced euphococcinine exclusively; the Ponderosae produced primarily pinidine; and the Cembroides produced appreciable quantities of both. Alkaloid profiles of P. leiophylla and P. l. chihuahuana were very similar, and in agreement with classification of chihuahuana as a variety of P. leiophylla. Among the Ponderosae, P. p. arizonica was unique in its lack of alkaloids, suggesting species-level distinction from P. ponderosa may be appropriate. The absence of alkaloids in P. discolor, contrary to its close relative P. cembroides, provides further evidence towards designation as a separate species. Alkaloids in a subset of seedlings subjected to water stress did not differ from controls.