Intraspecific variability of triterpene content in the leaves of Betula pendula Roth

Changes in the content of dammarane-type triterpene alcohols in the leaves of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) are studied for the first time along a zonal-climatic transect from the northern to southern borders of the species areal in the Trans-Ural region. It is shown that populations of northern and southern regions differ concerning the triterpene content in leaves. A correlation between the content of triterpene alcohols in silver birch leaves and some climatic parameters is revealed. At the same time, the range of the intrapopulation variability of triterpene content is significantly less than that of the interpopulation variability, which indicates a high potential of population selection on the basis of this biochemical parameter.