Chemical ecologists study the interplay of natural chemical compounds and ecological factors. Our particular field of interest is the influence of abiotic factors (e.g. season, radiation, temperature) on plant secondary metabolites. Besides being of interest to unravel ecological functions of secondary metabolites for the ecology of the plants producing them, these studies provide important clues on how precisely to grow medicinal plants in order to get plants with high yields of bioactive compounds. Growing conditions for vegetables can also be better specified to result in optimal contents of desirable health beneficial secondary metabolites and low yields of secondary metabolites which adversely affect the taste of these vegetables.

Reviews

Llorens, L., Badenes-Perez, F.R., Julkunen-Tiitto, R., Zidorn, C., Fereres, A., Jansen, M.A.K., 2015. The role of UV-B radiation in plant sexual reproduction. Persp. Plant. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 17, 243-254. doi:10.1016/j.ppees.2015.03.001

Zidorn, C., 2010. Altitudinal variation of phenolics contents in flowering heads of the Asteraceae family. Phytochemistry Reviews 9, 197-203. doi:10.1007/s11101-009-9143-7

Original publications

Sommavilla, V., Haidacher-Gasser, D., Sgarbossa, M., Zidorn, C., 2012. Seasonal variation in phenolics in leaves of Celtis australis (Cannabaceae). Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 41, 110-114. doi:10.1016/j.bse.2011.12.028

Albert, A., Sareedenchai, V., Heller, W., Seidlitz, H. K., Zidorn, C., 2009. Temperature is the key to altitudinal variation of phenolics in Arnica montana L. cv. ARBO. Oecologia 160, 1-8. doi:10.1007/s00442-009-1277-1

Sareedenchai, V., Zidorn C., 2008. Sequestration of polyacetylenes by the parasite Orobanche hederae (Orobanchaceae) from its host Hedera helix (Araliaceae). Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 36, 772-776. doi:10.1016/j.bse.2008.09.002

Ganzera, M., Guggenberger, M., Stuppner, H., Zidorn, C., 2008. Altitudinal variation of secondary metabolite profiles in flowering heads of Matricaria chamomilla cv. BONA. Planta Med. 74, 453-457. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1034326

Spitaler, R., Schlorhaufer, P.D., Ellmerer, E.P., Merfort, I., Bortenschlager, S., Stuppner, H., Zidorn, C., 2006. Altitudinal variation of secondary metabolite profiles in flowering heads of Arnica montana cv. ARBO. Phytochemistry 67, 409-417. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2005.11.018

Zidorn, C., Schubert, B., Stuppner, H., 2005. Altitudinal differences in the contents of phenolics in flowering heads of three members of the tribe Lactuceae (Asteraceae) occurring as introduced species in New Zealand. Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 33, 855-872. doi:10.1016/j.bse.2004.12.027