Content and Composition of Fatty Acids in Total Lipids from the Buds of Betula pubescens, B. pendula, and B. pendula var. carelica

Abstract Absolute content and composition of fatty acids (FAs) in total lipids from the buds of white birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.), silver birch (B. pendula Roth), and its subspecies B. pendula var. carelica Merckl. were investigated. The examined birches differed in these characteristics calculated per gram of dry weight. The buds of Karelian birch contained reliably greater content of FAs in total lipids as compared with the buds of two other birches. Detected differences in the content of total lipid FAs in two species and one variety of birch reflect peculiarities of biosynthesis of lipid compounds and may serve as an indicator for identification of plants from the genus Betula L.