Abstract

The content and ratio of plastid pigments in the conifers of three species of the larch genus (Larix Mill.) were studied: Siberian larch (L. sibirica Ledeb.), Gmelin’s larch (L. Gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.), Sukachev’s larch (L. Sukaczewii Dylis). Their seed progeny is concentrated on a pilot site in the Sergachsky forestry of the Nizhny Novgorod region with geographical coordinates 55°32 ‘14,2” N 45°28’01,0” E and an absolute height of 160 m. The site is assigned to the zone of coniferous-broad-leaved forests (the third forest-growing zone) and is included in the area of coniferous-broad-leaved (mixed) forests of the European part of the Russian Federation. The content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids in the needles was determined by spectrophotometric method at wavelengths: 665 nm, 649 nm, 452,5 nm. Samples for research were prepared in accordance with the principle of a single logical difference and randomized sample formation. Phenotypic differences in the pigment composition of needles between representatives of these species were revealed. The pigment composition of Siberian larch is dominated by chlorophyll a (3,76 ± 0,12 mg/g), significantly less chlorophyll b (1,87 ± 0,07 mg/g) and even less carotenoids (0,59 ± 0,02 mg/g). The same is observed in the pigment composition of other larch species. The hereditary conditionality of the species specificity of Siberian larch, Gmelin’s larch and Sukachev’s larch was established for all the tested characteristics. The greatest influence (29,84 ± 1,61 %) on the formation of the total phenotypic dispersion was observed in the ratio of the content of chlorophyll-a to the content of carotenoids, the least (5,89 ± 2,16 %) — in the content of dry matter in the needles. Relatively high values were obtained for the proportion of carotenoids (26,74 ± 1,68 %) and the ratio of their content to the total of chlorophylls (26,39 ± 1,69 %). The studied species showed an unequal level of similarity or significant differences in the individual characteristics of the pigment composition of needles.

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