Volatile compounds fingerprinting of larch tree samples for Siberian and European larch distinction

An optimized method of headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (HS/SPME-GC/FID) was used to discriminate between larch wood originated from Central Europe and larch wood from Siberia. Variability in the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOC) between both larches were found, as well as in intensities of volatiles in chromatograms. These differences are influenced by many factors like genetic, environmental and spatial factors. Therefore, the optimized method was used to measure VOC fingerprints of 82 samples of European and Siberian larches. The VOC fingerprints have been characterized by calculation of retention indices for each compound. The statistical evaluation of the retention indices obtained from VOC fingerprints was performed using multivariate regression with a reduction in dimensionality-orthogonal projections to latent structure (OPLS). Such approach was able to discriminate the correct origin of all 82 larch wood samples. Hence, analysis of VOC fingerprints using HS/SPME-GC/FID in combination with OPLS presents a useful tool for discrimination between wood of European larch and Siberian larch. By extending this method to other species and factors of influence, it might be of great interest for wood certification and forestry industry.