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 chemo-taxonomic method for the study of intersecific poplar hybrids and also supports the accuracy of analysis of foliar morphology for taxonomic assessment. Key words: Populus, bud exudate, gas chromatography – mass spectrometry.