Comparative Analysis of Epicuticular Waxes from Some High Alpine Plant Species

Abstract

Abstract Epicuticular waxes were extracted and analysed from leaves of 7 different high alpine plant species, with 3 species harvested at different altitudes: Salix herbacea (1950 m, 2825 m), Leucanthemopsis alpinum (1950 m, 3050 m), Loiseleuria procumbens (1950 m, 2660 m), Dryas octopetala (2400 m), Ranunculus glacialis (2800 m), Soldanella pusilla (2640 m), Oxyria digyna (2640m). Two main fractions obtained from waxes were investigated: hydrocarbons and wax-esters, -aldehydes plus -acetates. Individual wax compounds accumulated differently in the respective plant species. The gross composition did not indicate a strict altitude-dependent change in wax composition, though some single components like the C-29/C-31 alkanes (Loiseleuria) or the C-22/C-26 fatty acid methyl esters in Salix, changed significantly with increasing elevation of plant habitat. The evergreen leaves of Dryas and of Loiseleuria exhibited exceptionally high amounts of triterpenol esters. The results indicate that the formation of epicuticular wax layers is not based on a special adaptation to altitude or high mountain habitats in general.