Effectiveness of fine root fingerprinting as a tool to identify plants of the Alps : results of a preliminary study

To identify plants of the Alps through analysis of their roots is currently extremely dif cult when using traditional identi cation methods such as dichotomous keys and/or illustrated atlases. Besides genetic analysis, other analytical methods, such as chromatographic analysis, could also be useful for root identi cation. Chromatographic ngerprints of root extracts of six species (Betula pendula, Picea abies, Fagus sylvatica, Larix decidua, Fraxinus excelsior and Corylus avellana) were analyzed in order to understand whether these species have a chromatographic ngerprint that identi es them, and hence to ascertain whether they can be identi ed by applying the method of analysis presented below. One hundred and sixty-two root samples were collected in various areas of the Alps and subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Multivariate analysis techniques (e.g. cluster analysis) were employed for statistical analysis of chromatographic ngerprints. This study revealed that the chromatographic ngerprints of birch, spruce and larch samples were similar and that the method can therefore clearly identify the respective species. Instead, chromatographic ngerprint samples of beech, hazel and ash presented greater variability. Research proposals based on the results obtained in this study were also developed in order to implement and facilitate studies regarding plant roots.