MacDonald, M.T.; Lada, R.R.; MacDonald, G.E.; Caldwell, C.D.; Udenigwe, C.C. Changes in Polar Lipid Composition in Balsam Fir during Seasonal Cold Acclimation and Relationship to Needle Abscission. Int. J. Mol. Sci.2023, 24, 15702.
MacDonald, M.T.; Lada, R.R.; MacDonald, G.E.; Caldwell, C.D.; Udenigwe, C.C. Changes in Polar Lipid Composition in Balsam Fir during Seasonal Cold Acclimation and Relationship to Needle Abscission. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 15702.
MacDonald, M.T.; Lada, R.R.; MacDonald, G.E.; Caldwell, C.D.; Udenigwe, C.C. Changes in Polar Lipid Composition in Balsam Fir during Seasonal Cold Acclimation and Relationship to Needle Abscission. Int. J. Mol. Sci.2023, 24, 15702.
MacDonald, M.T.; Lada, R.R.; MacDonald, G.E.; Caldwell, C.D.; Udenigwe, C.C. Changes in Polar Lipid Composition in Balsam Fir during Seasonal Cold Acclimation and Relationship to Needle Abscission. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 15702.
Abstract
Needle abscission in balsam fir has been linked to both cold acclimation and changes in lipid composition. The overall objective of this research is to uncover lipid changes in balsam fir during cold acclimation and link those changes with postharvest abscission. Branches were collected monthly from September to December and assessed for cold tolerance via membrane leakage and chlorophyll fluorescence changes at -5, -15, -25, -35, and -45°C. Lipids were extracted and analyzed using mass spectrometry while postharvest needle abscission was determined gravimetrically. Cold tolerance and needle retention each significantly (P < 0.001) improved throughout autumn in balsam fir. There were concurrent increases in DGDG, PC, PG, PE, and PA throughout autumn and a decrease in MGDG. Those same lipids were strongly related to cold tolerance, though MGDG had the strongest relationship (R2 = 55.0% and 42.7% from membrane injury and chlorophyll fluorescence, respectively). There was a similar, albeit weaker, relationship between MGDG:DGDG and needle retention (R2 = 24.3%). Generally, a decrease in MGDG:DGDG ratio resulted in better cold tolerance and higher needle retention in balsam fir possibly due to increased membrane stability.
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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