title: Quantitative Variation of Flavonoids and Diterpenes in Leaves and Stems of Cistus ladanifer L. at Different Ages.
abstract: The compounds derived from secondary metabolism in plants perform a variety of ecological functions, providing the plant with resistance to biotic and abiotic factors. The basal levels of these metabolites for each organ, tissue or cell type depend on the development stage of the plant and they may be modified as a response to biotic and/or abiotic stress. As a consequence, the resistance state of a plant may vary in space and time. The secondary metabolites of Cistus ladanifer have been quantified in leaves and stems throughout autumn, winter, spring and summer, and at different ages of the plant. This study shows that there are significant differences between young leaves, mature leaves and stems, and between individuals of different ages. Young leaves show significantly greater synthesis of flavonoids and diterpenes than mature leaves and stems, with a clear seasonal variation, and the differences between leaves at different growth stages and stems is maintained during the quantified seasons. With respect to age, specimens under one year of age secreted significantly lower amounts of compounds. The variation in the composition of secondary metabolites between different parts of the plant, the season and the variations in age may determine the interactions of Cistus ladanifer with the biotic and abiotic factors to which it is exposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain. cvalmas@unex.es.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valares Masa
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain. tesosa@unex.es.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sosa Díaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain. jalias@unex.es.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Alías Gallego
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain. natchalo@unex.es.
authors.forename: Natividad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chaves Lobón
mesh_terms: D029758:Cistus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000032:analysis*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D012621:Seasons; D064210:Secondary Metabolism
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D005419:Flavonoids; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Cistus ladanifer L.; age; diterpenes; flavonoids; phenols; quantitative variation