Jahreszeitliche Schwankungen in der Zusammensetzung der Cuticularwachse von Pinus silvestris

Summary Cuticular waxes of one and two year old Pinus silvestris needles, monthly analyzed by gas liquid chromatography, show pronounced differences in accordance with season and needle-age. In the hydrocarbon fraction the low-molecular components decrease from late summer to next spring. At the end of July there is a deep minimum. The relative amount of the most important alcohols and esters also varies with season and needle-age. In some cases these differences run up to 30 % of the total fraction. Finally these findings are discussed in relation to their effect for chemotaxonomy, ecophysiology and pathology.