Exploring the links between secondary metabolites and leaf spectral reflectance in a diverse genus of Amazonian trees

Plant defense chemistry is often hypothesized to drive ecological and evolutionary success in diverse tropical forests, yet detailed characterizations of plant secondary metabolites plants are logistically challenging. Here, we explore a new integrative approach that combines visible-to-shortwave infrared (VSWIR) spectral reflectance data with metabolomics from 19 Protium (Burseraceae) tree species. Building on the discovery different species have unique chemistries share many metabolites, devised method test for associations between VSWIR data. Given species-level variation metabolite abundance, correlated concentration particular chemicals bands wavelength band per matrix. We included 45 were shared by at least 5 their per-species foliar abundances against each one 210 field-measured spectra. Finally, tested whether classes similar showed relationships patterns. found yielded strong correlations spectra Protium. Furthermore, important such as procyanidins (condensed tannins) phytosterols grouped together hierarchical clustering analysis (Ward’s algorithm), confirming similarity also significant correlation phenolics content juvenile canopy trees same species, suggesting consistent across life stages geographic distribution. conclude integration metabolic approaches could represent powerful economical characterize aspects chemistry.