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. 2023 Oct 28;24(21):15702.
doi: 10.3390/ijms242115702.

Changes in Polar Lipid Composition in Balsam Fir during Seasonal Cold Acclimation and Relationship to Needle Abscission

Mason T MacDonald  1 , Rajasekaran R Lada  1 , Gaye E MacDonald  1 , Claude D Caldwell  1 , Chibuike C Udenigwe  2
Affiliations

Changes in Polar Lipid Composition in Balsam Fir during Seasonal Cold Acclimation and Relationship to Needle Abscission

Mason T MacDonald et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

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 were 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 as well as 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. This study confirms the degree of cold acclimation in Nova Scotian balsam fir and presents practical significance to industry by identifying the timing of peak needle retention. It is suggested that MGDG:DGDG might be a beneficial tool for screening balsam fir genotypes with higher needle retention characteristics.

Keywords: Abies balsamea; cold; conifer; fluorescence; galactolipids; galactosyldiacylglycerol; membrane injury; needle retention; phospholipids.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Membrane injury of balsam fir branches collected from September to December then subjected to freeze tests at −5, −15, −25, −35, and −45 °C. Each data point is the mean ± standard error as calculated from 20 replicates.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) of balsam fir branches collected from September to December and then subjected to freeze tests at −5, −15, −25, −35, and −45 °C. Chlorophyll fluorescence is expressed as a percentage of the baseline values established by measuring branches that were not exposed to any freezing test. Each data point represents the mean ± standard error as calculated from 20 replicates.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Linear relationship between LT50-MI and LT50-CF (N = 80).
Figure 4
Figure 4
NRD and LT50 values estimated from membrane injury (LT50-MI) and chlorophyll fluorescence (LT50-CF) from balsam fir branches collected in September to December. Bars represent the mean ± standard error as calculated from 20 replicates.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Ratio of (a) monogalactosyldiacylglycerol to digalactosyldiacylglycerol and (b) galactolipids to phospholipids in balsam fir collected from September to December. Each data point represents the mean ± standard error as calculated from 20 replicates.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Relationships of (a) monogalactosyldiacylglycerol to digalactosyldiacylglycerol ratio and (b) galactolipid to phospholipid ratio to LT50 values in balsam fir collected from September to December. N = 80.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Relationships of (a) digalactosyldiacylglycerol, (b) monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, and (c) monogalactosyldiacylglycerol to digalactosyldiacylglycerol ratio to needle retention duration (NRD) in balsam fir collected from September to December. N = 80 in each.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Relationships of (a) digalactosyldiacylglycerol, (b) monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, and (c) monogalactosyldiacylglycerol to digalactosyldiacylglycerol ratio to needle retention duration (NRD) in balsam fir collected from September to December. N = 80 in each.
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