Linking Changes in Fatty Acid Composition to Postharvest Needle Abscission Resistance in Balsam Fir Trees

Balsam fir needle retention and fatty acid profile changes due to cold acclimation throughout autumn, but little is known about the relationship between these two phenomena. The objective was examine differences in FAs contrasting abscission resistant balsam genotypes autumn early winter. Branches from with low high resistance (NAR) were collected September January analyzed for FA composition. High NAR retained needles 120–130% longer than increased through both genotypes. There approximately a 3:1 ratio of unsaturated: saturated FAs, which by 4% favor unsaturated acids autumn. Palmitic, palmitoleic, linolenic content significantly higher versus genotypes; arachidic, oleic, linoleic, pinolenic, coniferonic, icosadienoic, sciadonic lower low. Linolenic particular interest because it tended decrease point that January. These may be linked an increase abscisic and/or jasmonic synthesis depleting stores promoting postharvest resistance.