Dynamics of the processes of formation and accumulation of phenolic and pigment complexes in the needles of pine Pinus sylvestris

The paper analyzes the seasonal changes in the content of secondary metabolites in the needles of Scots pine growing in the subarctic zone of the Russian Federation. The regularities of changes in the content of phenolic compounds and pigments depending on climatic parameters during the annual cycle were established. A quantitative assessment of the influence of a complex of climatic factors on the pigment, phenolic and enzyme complexes of pine needles of different ages was carried out. We established that the adaptation of plants growing in the subarctic territories with a temperate continental climate to the impact of damaging factors is due to the accumulation of low molecular weight protective compounds (phenolic compounds, pigments). We used the method of multiparameter regression analysis of data, as well as the calculation of the Pearson pair correlation coefficient to assess the statistical significance of the main climatic factors influence on the formation and accumulation of the studied secondary metabolites in the annual cycle. It is shown that for needles, as photosynthetic tissue of coniferous plants, the greatest influence on the content of secondary metabolites of phenolic nature is exerted by ambient light and temperature. The experimental data demonstrate the most active processes of formation and accumulation of the main representatives of the pigment complex, as well as the highest activity of the enzymatic system in the emerging needles of the first year.