Comparative analysis of diterpene composition in the bark of the hybrid larch F1, Larix gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi and their parent trees

Abstract

The diterpene compositions in the bark of branches were investigated for two families of the F1 hybrid, Kurile larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica Pilg.) × Japanese larch [Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr.] (hereafter F1) and their parents clones. 13-Epimanool, larixol, larixyl acetate, 13-epitorulosyl acetate (not detected in L. gmelinii var. japonica), isopimaric acid, abietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, and neoabietic acid were detected. Larixol and abietic acid represented more than 50% of the diterpene content in L. gmelinii var. japonica and L. kaempferi, respectively. Larixol and abietic acid were the predominant diterpene components in the F 1, and the proportions of these diterpenes were between those of the parental species. Therefore, the diterpene compositions in the F1 were hereditarily infl uenced by their parents. The ratios of labdane, pimarane, and abietane diterpenes suggested that the main diterpene biosynthesis pathway in L. gmelinii var. japonica was from copalyl diphosphate (CDP) to labdane-type diterpenes, and that in L. kaempferi was from CDP to abietane-type diterpenes via pimarane type. Furthermore, linear discriminant analysis suggested that the diterpene contents are effective indices for the discrimination of the hybrid seedlings. © 2008 The Japan Wood Research Society.