WAX CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND MORPHOLOGY IN FOUR PISTACIA SPECIES FROM ALGERIA

Abstract

Leaf samples of Pistacia atlantica, P. lentiscus, P. terebinthus and P. vera from different sites, in Algeria, were characterized according to their epicuticular wax chemical composition and morphology. The cuticular waxes were observed under scanning electron microscope and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry after cyclohexane extraction. Wax morphology revealed a glossy aspect with a smooth wax layer in P. lentiscus leaves while a thin structure is observed in P. atlantica. The qualitative composition of the waxes, were different for the four species. The principal components were aliphatics, phenols and terpenes. There were, as well, quantitative differences between the taxa, concerning phenol and aliphatic compounds. P. vera show the highest phenol content, while P. atlantica and P. terebinthus have the highest aliphatic contents. Regarding the infraspecific variation, P. atlantica from semi-arid-fresh site exhibit more aliphatic and terpene. For P. lentiscus, sub-humid-mild site exhibited more aliphatic compounds while the semi-arid-cold site had the highest terpenes amount.