INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF POPLARS IN A HYBRID SWARM AS STUDIED BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY - MASS-SPECTROMETRY

Analysis of bud exudate by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of 14 clones belonging to a natural hybrid swarm involving Populus angustifolia, P. balsamifera, and P. deltoides produced results consistent with those obtained by previous analysis of leaf characteristics. Specimens that had leaves most characteristic of a pure species also produced bud exudate GC-MS profiles which were characteristic of those species. GC-MS profiles of interspecific hybrid clones were intermediate between the parental species. This demonstrates the usefulness of GC-MS analysis of bud exudate as a chemotaxonomic method for the study of intersecific poplar hybrids and also supports the accuracy of analysis of foliar morphology for taxonomic assessment.