An insight into seasonal changes of carbohydrates and phenolic compounds within the moss Polytrichum formosum (Polytrichaceae)

Abstract

The same population of the polytrichaceous moss Polytrichum formosum was studied over four different periods of the year, analysing its carbohydrate and polyphenolic content and dynamics related to environmental seasonal changes. A total of 18 different types of sugars (including mono-, di-, tri- and tetra-saccharides) and four sugar alcohols were determined. Chlorogenic acid was the most represented among the 10 detected phenolic compounds. As inferred by the sugar content, sucrose, fructose and glucose were the most dominant sugars, but it is worth mentioning the abundance of trehalose and turanose at least during one of the observed seasons. The presence of four trisaccharides and one tetrasaccharide within P. formosum should be highlighted, as well as the first reports of turanose, isomaltotriose, panose and rhamnose within this species. The quantitative changes over the year clearly demonstrate carbohydrate dynamics in relation to seasonal climatic variation. Sugars are shown to be significant constitutive molecules within P. formosum, but also physiologically active compounds, i.e. signalling and energy storage and supplier molecules. We assume that phenolics have moss-supportive effects during oxidative stress and biotic interaction.