【作者】 李仁成；

【导师】 谢树成；

【作者基本信息】 中国地质大学 ， 第四纪地质学， 2010， 博士

【摘要】 叶蜡的形成与植物的种类和环境有密切的关系,包含有重要的植物种类和环境信息。了解现代植物及其植硅体类脂物的形成、组成,探讨类脂物形成与环境之间的关系,评价其类脂物的成岩效应可以为碳循环和古环境重建研究提供理论依据。本文以竹亚科植物为例,探讨了西双版纳热带雨林中的23种木本竹子类脂物的化学分类意义,武汉慈竹(Bamboo N. affinis (Rendle) Keng f.)叶蜡形成与环境和生长之间的关系,评价了埋藏条件下竹叶类脂物及其正构烷烃同位素组成的早期成岩效应,并尝试了利用HF酸酸解植硅体提出类脂物的方法。叶蜡的形成受多种环境因子影响,导致其化学分类学意义具有一定的争议,为了排除这些因子的影响,对在同一时间、相近的高度和方向采集的西双版纳热带雨林植物园中的23种3个亚属的竹叶进行了类脂物分析,探讨其叶蜡化学分类和演化信息。叶蜡的正构烷烃和正构脂肪酸的组成和分布在木本竹子亚属级别上有明显的分类意义：8种箣竹(Bambusa)亚属叶蜡正构烷烃含有较高比例的大于C30组分,主要同系物散布在较多的碳数上；其平均链长(ACL)在29.2-30.4之间变化,平均值为30.4；9种牡竹(Dendrocalamus)亚属的叶蜡主要分布在C27和C29上,表现出集中的分布特征,大于C30的同系物含量较低；其平均链长在27.0-28.8之间变化,平均值为28.3；绿竹(Dendrocalamopsis)亚属不同于箣竹和牡竹亚属,其正构烷烃分布模式较为复杂。其中,有三种竹子的正构烷烃主要同系物比较平均地分布于多个碳数(C27,C29,C31和C33),有两种竹叶正构烷烃主要集中分布在C27、C29,还有一种主要集中分布在C25、C27；大于C30的同系物含量介于箣竹(Bambusa)和牡竹(Dendrocalamus)亚属之间。此亚属的正构烷烃平均链长介于27.4-29.0之间,平均值为29.0。箣(Bambusa)竹亚属正构脂肪酸主要以C24为主峰,牡竹(Dendrocalamus)亚属主要以C22为主峰,绿竹(Dendrocalamopsis)亚属中有类似于箣竹(Bambusa)亚属的,也有类似于牡竹(Dendrocalamus)亚属的,正构脂肪酸组成的聚类结果同其主峰碳数指示的分类结果相符合,同时与传统分类学结果有较好的一致性。叶蜡正构烷烃和正构脂肪酸的分布模式能够清楚地区分箣竹(Bambusa)和牡竹(Dendrocalamus)亚属的物种,然而,绿竹亚属正构烷烃和正构脂肪酸具有复杂的分布模式,一些与箣竹(Bambusa)相似,一些与牡竹(Dendrocalamus)相似。类脂物分析表明绿竹(Dendrocalamopsis)亚属应该提升为一个独立的属,从箣竹属分离出来。主要正构烷烃同系物的相对比重与平均链长的差异表明牡竹有可能是三个亚属中最为进化的种类,绿竹(Dendrocalamopsis)亚属介于箣竹和牡竹亚属。根据叶蜡正构烷烃推断的木本竹子的分类和演化结果与以前报道的形态学结论相一致,表明叶蜡正构烷烃应该是一种重要而有用的竹类化学分类工具,能够进行木本竹子的分类研究。叶蜡的成分的含量、组成,特别是正构烷烃的分布(ACL, CPI)和单体碳同位素的构成与环境的关系具有复杂性,研究较少。通过慈竹叶蜡成分两年月分辨率的变化监测,探讨了叶蜡成分及其正构烷烃单体同位素的季节变化与环境和生长的关系。慈竹各器官类脂物的组成和分布不同。正构烷烃和烯烃、正构脂肪酸、正构脂肪醇和甾烯醇从茎、枝到叶含量有升高趋势,正构脂肪醇和甾烯醇从根到茎出现降低的现象,且含量高于茎和枝,根中没有检测到正构烷烃。正构脂肪酸、正构脂肪醇平均链长、甾醇类C29：1的相对含量从根、茎到叶有升高的趋势,短链的甾醇C28：1和含不饱和键的甾醇C29：2则出现降低的趋势,根相对其他部位正构脂肪酸、正构脂肪醇主要集中在低碳数部分,主峰碳数和茎、枝、叶不同。正构烷烃分布由集中在少数碳数到分散到多个碳数,C29正构烷烃比重从茎、枝到叶逐渐降低。各成分含量和疏水性组分沿根、茎、枝到叶总体有升高趋势可能与蒸腾作用有关,植物通过合成不同成分或含量的蜡质成分来适应蒸腾作用。根部类脂物组成的特殊性很可能与其吸收养分和水分的功能相适应。正构烷烃在各器官的分布特征与其蒸腾作用不一致,其分布响应蒸腾作用信号可能被其他功能掩盖。竹叶蜡质主要含有4环或4环以下的多环芳烃,含少量或缺乏高环数的多环芳烃,主要是现代植物吸收大气中污染的多环芳烃(PAHS)造成的,多环芳烃的比能够指示其污染种类和来源。多环芳烃的比值表明本处的多环芳烃主要指示热源成因,主要燃料是煤,并有少量木材燃烧。高环数多环芳烃的比有可能不适用于指示其来源。慈竹叶蜡各成分的含量、组成和分布有明显的季节变化。慈竹叶蜡正构烷烃在生长季节的开始含量较低,随着叶片的生长,气温的升高,蒸发量的增加,正构烷烃及正构烯烃的含量逐渐升高,在7-8月份含量较高,随后降低,在低温的11月至次年的3月由于干燥的气候造成其烷烃及烯烃出现另一个峰值。炎热的夏季和初秋由于高温,正构烷烃平均链长较大,在相对湿、凉的月份平均链长较小,在寒冷的冬季由于干旱或较低的空气湿度,其平均链长有一定增加。低碳数(小于C20)与高碳数(大于C20)正构脂肪酸的相对含量与温度和光照的变化具有一致性,低温／低光照可能会造成低碳数正构脂肪酸的合成较少,参与储存的部分增多。植物在生长季节的初期可以通过调节C29：2和C29：1的相对含量来适应生长和环境的变化。生长季节的初期,正构脂肪酸、脂肪醇的平均链长、各脂肪烃CPI出现高值；而正构烷烃平均链长较小,在整个生长季节有增加的趋势,表明生长季节的早期,植物能够利用储存的有机物合成长链正构脂肪酸；不饱和C18脂肪酸和C29：2的甾烯醇相对比重增加,可能是为了增加细胞膜的流动以便满足植物生长初期营养物质和水分的需要；脂肪烃的CPI主要受基因控制,受环境影响比较小。在低温的月份不饱和C18的含量没有出现高值,说明大部分叶片不具备抗寒植物叶片在寒冷季节合成较多不饱和脂肪酸的功能,低温降低了C18不饱和脂肪酸的合成,同时衰老和死亡叶片的不饱和脂肪酸可能被氧化。正构烷烃单体同位素能够很好地反映植物的生长、环境的变化,在植物生长旺盛的季节由于重新利用根或茎储存的糖类合成有机物,其单体同位素相对偏正；随着气温的升高,核酮糖-1,5-二磷酸羧化酶活性增强,造成正构烷烃单体同位素组成降低；在寒冷干燥的冬季,叶片衰老使气孔导通率下降,在干旱胁迫下,细胞内外的C02分压降低,导致单体同位素值增加。精确评价叶蜡的早期成岩效应有利于提高古环境和古植物重建的可靠性,通过竹子叶蜡成分在植物-土壤系统中的变化,可以认识和了解早期成岩对叶蜡成分影响规律。慈竹叶片类脂物在植物-土壤系统中组成和分布由于受土壤生物降解、改造、贡献等影响出现重要变化：正构烷烃CPI由新鲜叶片到枯叶,由土壤表层到下层有逐渐降低的趋势；正构烷烃ACL从新鲜叶片到土壤表层有增加的趋势,由表层到深层则出现降低的趋势。正构脂肪酸ACL、CPI由新鲜叶片-枯叶-土壤表层-土壤深层有逐渐降低的趋势,在根系发达处ACL有明显的增加,可能与根的贡献有关；在贫营养的沙质土壤中,根系发达地带有可能存在微生物的相对活跃区。叶蜡正构烷烃和正构脂肪酸受早期成岩作用有一定差别,正构烷烃能较好的反映土壤植被更替及早期成岩信息,正构脂肪酸在土壤中的分布容易受到植物根系的贡献或微生物改造。高等植物正构烷烃单体同位素分析能够比较准确的恢复古植被,探讨环境的变化,正构烷烃单体同位素在不同的环境或实验条件下变化有一定的差异。植物根系是土壤有机质的重要来源,在埋藏条件下,正构烷烃及其单体同位素组成的变化了解甚少,探讨在埋藏条件下高等植物类脂物组成和分布以及正构烷烃单体同位素组成变化非常必要。慈竹叶蜡在埋藏条件下很少受土壤污染,能比较客观的反映叶蜡各成分及正构烷烃同位素组成在埋藏条件下的早期成岩效应。在埋藏条件下,慈竹叶蜡正构烷烃和正构脂肪酸平均链长增加,主峰碳数增大,主要与土壤生物利用低碳数部分类脂物合成高碳数同系物以及微生物优先降解低碳数同系物有关,同时正构烷烃与正构脂肪酸相比受早期成岩和微生物改造较弱,能够比较客观地反映上覆植被的信息；埋藏叶片中异构、反异构的低碳数酸以及不饱和的C16酸主要来源于土壤菌藻类微生物及动物,异构、反异构脂肪酸的在不同深度的相对比例主要决定于土壤中微生物种类。C27、C29正构烷烃的合成数量有明显的季节变化,但其同位素组成始终存在差值,说明高碳数正构烷烃同位素组成通常低于低碳数主要与脂肪烃的合成有关。正构烷烃C27、C29从新鲜叶片到地表,从土壤表层到深层单体同位素的组成逐渐偏正；埋藏叶片正构烷烃同位素组成偏正于新鲜叶片,且随埋藏时间增加略有偏正,主要归结于微生物的优先降解贫12C的正构烷烃,同时贡献富13C的正构烷烃。总体而言,正构烷烃的组成和分布随生物降解逐渐接近土壤,而正构脂肪酸与土壤中的相应组分差异明显,说明正构烷烃比正构脂肪酸更能够代表植被的原始信息,受早期成岩和微生物影响较小；植物叶片在埋藏条件下,其正构烷烃碳同位素在早期成岩过程中没有明显的变化,一定程度上能够反映植物正构烷烃碳同位素的组成。植硅体形态组合的季节变化研究有利于了解植硅体形成的机制,认识植硅体组合变化与环境变化的关系,有助于解译沉积物中植硅体组合的环境信息。首次利用提取现代植物叶片植硅体进行植硅体形态组合的季节变化研究。慈竹叶植硅体含量随植物的生长含量逐渐增加,表明了植硅体的形成很大程度上与植物叶片的蒸腾作用有关。在生长季节的初期,植硅体含量增加的速率较快,表明植硅体的含量与植物的生长阶段有一定的关系；竹亚科植硅体类型多样,除了长鞍型、扇型以及哑铃型外,狭长卵型(narrow elliptates)可做为慈竹植硅体的特征形态。植硅体的形态组合有明显的季节变化。硅质短细胞优先硅化,其他表皮细胞随植物的生长硅化数量逐渐增加,机动细胞含量的季节变化主要反映叶片蒸腾作用的强弱；长细胞植硅体可能对低温有防御功能；植硅体的形成很可能与细胞的形态和功能相联系。温暖指数与年平均气温呈明显的正相关,在一定程度上能够反映气温的变化,其变化受到植物生长的影响。植硅体稳定同位素研究有利于了解地球硅循环,认识植硅体形成的生理机制,解译氧、碳同位素分馏与环境的关系。植硅体具有抗腐蚀、抗降解,易于保存等特性,其内部锢囚有有机碳。其同位素分析能够相对准确地揭示古植被、古环境和古气候信息,探讨C3、C4植物的演化。开展植硅体有机化学组成分析,特别是其类脂物的研究,有助于认识C3、C4草本植硅体碳同位素组成偏负于植物体,且其碳同位素差值缩小的原因,并有可能成为古环境重建新的代用指标。目前,植硅体类脂物的GC-MS分析数据很少报道。利用HF酸酸解植硅体可以提出类脂物组分。慈竹叶片植硅体主要含低碳数的正构脂肪酸,其类脂物的组成是叶片类脂物的子集,植硅体类脂物的组成可能与植硅体化学组成有关,对细胞体的类脂物诱陷具有一定的选择性。更多还原

【Abstract】 Genetic and environmental factors influences wax quantity and composition. The wax production can be used in plant chemotaxonomy and paleoenvironment reconstruction. Studying the formation and compositon of leaf waxes and lipid in phytoliths, the relationships between compostion and quantity of leaf wax and environment factors and evaluating the early diagenesis effect of leaf waxes are the theoretic basis of carbon recycle and paleoenvironment reconstruction research. This work presented and disccused the leaf wax chemotaxonomy of bamboo from Xishuangbanna Tropical Rain Forest in Southwest China, the carbon isotope variation in n-alkanes and in chemical compostion of wax from the leaves of Bamboo N. affinis (Rendle) Keng f. with season changes and in plan-soil system, especially in soil. In additional, the lipid was extracted from phytolith by HF acid acidolysis.The chemotaxonomy significance is disputant because the leaf wax composition might be affected by grow conditions such as temperature, humidity, light, CO2 concentration and nutrition that might affect the leaf composition. In order to minimize the effects of differences in growth conditions the whole fully-developed leaves were collected in the same light conditions and approximately at the same height from Xishuangbanna tropical botanical garden. The leaf n-alkanes, identified in 23 species of woody bamboos from the Xishuangbanna tropical rain forest in South China, show a distribution in carbon number ranging from C23 to C35, with a strong odd-over-even predominance. The distribution pattern of leaf n-alkanes is distinctively different at the subgenus level of woody bamboos we investigated:The leaf waxes of individual species in the Bambusa subgenus contain a wide range of dominant compounds, including C27, C29, C31, C33 and C35 n-alkanes. The average chain length, ACL, of the eight species we analyzed varies from 29.2 to 31.6 and has an average value of 30.4. They have high proportion of C30+ alkanes. All of the leaf waxes of the nine species from the Dendrocalamus subgenus that we studied are dominated by only two n-alkanes, C27 and C29. The ACL values in this subgenus range from 27.0 to 28.8 and have an average value of 28.3. They have small proportion of C30+ alkanes. Unlike those of the Bambusa and Dendrocalamus species, the distributions of the n-alkanes in the Dendrocalamopsis subgenus do not follow a single, simple pattern. The distributions of three of the species we studied contain a range of dominant n-alkanes (C27, C29, C31 and C33), whereas the distributions of two others are dominated by C27 and C29 and that of a third by C25 and C27. The ACL values for the Dendrocalamopsis species vary from 27.4 to 30.0 with the mean value of 29.0. The leaf n-alkane patterns easily distinguish the Bambusa species from the Dendrocalamus species. Howver, the Dendrocalamopsis species have more complicated n-alkane distributions; some species are comparable with the Bambusa species and others with the Dendrocalamus species. It is possible to join species based on the main holomogues of n-alkanoic acid distributions:Bambusa with C24, Dendrocalamus with C22, some species of Dendrocalamopsis with C24 and the others with C22-The results of cluster analysis based on the n-alkanoic acid distributions are consistent with the classification by peak carbon number and morphological characters.The species of Bambusa and Dendrocalamus can be distinguished by the n-alkane and n-alkanoic acid distribution. However, the n-alkane and n-alkanoic acid distribution patterns are relative complicated in Dendrocalamopsis species. Some are simlar to subgenus Bambusa and the others are compared with subgenus Dendrocalamus.Our lipid data suggest that Dendrocalamopsis might be assigned as an independent genus separated from the Bambusa genus. The differences in the dominant n-alkanes and the ACL values suggest that the Dendrocalamus species might be more evolutionarily advanced than the Bambusa species, with the Dendrocalamopsis species being a transitional one. The evolution and classification of the woody bamboos inferred from leaf n-alkanes are consistent with morphological investigations reported before, indicating that the leaf wax components could be used as a chemotaxonomic tool for these bamboo plants.It is complicated the composition and concentration of leaf waxes, especially the distributions and carbon isotope compositons (ACL and CPI) of n-alkanes reponses to environments. The mensal variations of leaf wax in N. affinis (Rendle) Keng f. was investigated to make clear the relationships between the variations of leaf wax concentritions and composition, and its n-alkanesδ13C value, and plant growth or eviromental in two years.Cuticular wax composition and concentration varies among different organs of N. affinis (Rendle) Keng f.. The concentration of n-alkanes, alkenes, n-fatty acids, n-alkanols and stenol increases from stem to branch and leaves. While the concentration of n-alkanols and stenols decreases from stem to root and no n-alkanes was detected in roots. Generaly, trends to longer average n-fatty acids and n-alkanol chains and more sterol (C29:1) are evident from roots over stems to leaves. While the short-chain sterol (C28:1) and unsaturated sterol (C29:2) show the decreasing trend. Shorter n-fatty acids and n-alcohols are present in root than that in other parts. The proportion of C29 n-alkane gets depressed, and the dominant homologues are more dispersed in more caron numbers from stems over branches to leaves. The concentrations of a great member of components in leaf wax and hydrophobic members increased from root over stem and branch to leaves maybe be related to plant transpiration. The plant maybe can regulate compositon and concentration of leaf wax to adapt to the transpiration intensity. However, the distributions of n-alkanes in different organs seem not consistent with other compounds. This maybe due to the other function of n-alkanes covering up the role of resisting water lose. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with 4 rings or less than 4 rings can be detected in N. affinis (Rendle) Keng f.. The ratios of lower ring PHSs indicate their sources are major from combustion of coal, and little from wood, and that of higher ring PHSs maybe are not appropriate to indicate their source.The contents and distributions of the leaves wax from N. affinis (Rendle) Keng f. reponse seasonal changes well. The rising temperature and enhangcing evaporation and leaf growth evoked the elevated concentritions of alkanes and alkenes which reveal the maximum in July and August following a valley.. The phase between November and March with cold and dry climate, another peak value of alkanes and alkenes appeared. In hot summer and early-autumn, n-alkanes have longer averaged carbon chains. The ACL also increase lightly in cold winter with low air humidity. Short-chain n-fatty acids (<C20) increased with the temperature and light intensity. The decreasing temperature and light intesnsity perhaps could make plant produce less short-chain n-fatty acids, and alternatively store more. The ACLs of n-fatty acids and alcohols and the CPIs of three n-alkly compound peak in initial growing period. But more alkanes with short ACLs are produced in the beginning of growth season.Then the ACL of alkanes increased gradually accompanied the plant growing. In the early growing period, the plants could use the storaged organic matters as the materials to synthesize the long-chain fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids (C18) and stenol (C29) can increase in early growing season to keep good fluidity of cell membrane for transporting nutrition and water. The CPIs of hydrocarbons were dominantly controlled by the gene. Unsaturated fatty acids (C18) did not increase obviously in the low-temperature months. This indicate:(1) a majority of senescent leaves lost the ability which the cold-resistance ability of plants could increase the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids (C18), (2)Low temperature would be the obstruction the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids (C18), (3) The unsaturated fatty acids (C18) maybe was oxygenated in aged or sencescent leaves. The carbon isotope compositon of higher plant-derived n-alkanes could be a good proxy for the plant growth and the variation of environment. In the thrive season, reutilize the sugar storaged in the roots and stems, theδ13C show positive shifts. With the increasing temperature, the activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase increased leading to the reduction of n-alkanesδ13C. In the cold dry winter, theδ13C show positive shifts perhaps because the leaf senescence causes the stomatal conductance descent, and the concentrition of the intracellular CO2 decreased under the drought stress,Accurate assessment of the early diagenetic effects of leaf wax is propitious to improve the reliability and objectivity of palaeoenvironment and paleovegetation reconstruction. By analysing the changes of bamboo leaf wax components in plant-soil system, we can understand how early diagenetic and biodegradtion affect on the composition and distribution of leaf wax. The composition and distribution of leaf lipids of N. affinis (Rendle) Keng f. significantly changed in plant-soil system due to soil microbe biodegradation, transformation, contribution etc. The n-alkanes CPI decreases gradually from fresh leaves to defoliation and from the soil surface to the lower part. The n-alkanes ACL present an increasing trend from fresh leaves to the soil surface, while a decreasing trend from the surface to the lower part. Normal fatty acids ACL and CPI gradually decrease from fresh leaves to fallen leaves, soil surface, lower part of soil. FAs ACL obviously increases in root-developed area, may be related to the contribution of root. In poor trophic sandy soil, there could be a relatively more active microbial area penetrated root-developed zone. Early diagenesis has different effect on leaf wax n-alkanes and fatty acids. N-alkanes can be better used to study the paleovegetation changes and early diagenetic, while normal fatty acids are vulnerable to affected by plant roots.Higher plant n-alkane specific carbon isotope analysis can be accurate used to reconstruct the palaeovegetation, to explore changes in paleoenvironment. The changes of n-alkane specific isotopes have some differences in different environmental or experimental conditions. Plant roots are an important source of soil organic matter. There are few reports of which n-alkanes and its specific carbon isotopic composition reponse to early diagenetic changes and biodegradtion, so to explore the composition and distribution of lipids, and n-alkane specific carbon isotopic in higher plant under buried conditions is necessary. The leaf wax of N. affinis (Rendle) Keng f. was rarely affected by soil contribution in buried conditions, so it can reflect the early diagenetic effects on leaf wax compositions and their n-alkanes carbon isotopic compositions under buried conditions. In the burial conditions, both the average chain length and peak carbon number of leaf wax n-alkanes and normal fatty acids from N. affinis (Rendle) Keng f. increased, this phenomena mainly be related to soil organisms using a few parts of low-molecular-weight lipid to synthesize high-molecular-weight homologues, alternatively microbes preferentially degraded low-molecular-weight homologues. The iso-, anteiso-15:0,17:0 fatty acids and unsaturated C16 acid of buried leaves are mainly contributed by soil algae, bacteria and animals, the relative proportion of isomerous, trans anteisomerous fatty acids in different depth are mainly determined by the soil microorganism species.The relative quantities of synthetical C27 and C29 n-alkane are significant seasonal changed, but there is always a difference of their isotopic composition, indicating the trend towards 13C-depletion with increasing chain length are mainly related to the synthesis of aliphatic hydrocarbons. Theδ13C of C27 and C29 n-alkanes in buried leaves are more positive than that of in fresh leaves, and got slightly positive with the increasing burial time. These phenomena are mainly ascribed to microbes preferentially degrade 12C-depleted n-alkanes and contribute 13C-rich n-alkanes. Overall, the n-alkane carbon isotopes of plant leaves in the burial conditions have no significant changes through the early diagenesis processes, and to some extent it can reflect the plant n-alkane carbon isotope composition.Seasonal variation of phytolith’s morphological combination is useful in recognition the mechanism of the formation of phytolith, the relationship between the variation of its morphological combination and environments, the environmental information in phytolith assemblage. Here we firstly investigated the seasonal variation of phytolith assemblage by extracting phytolith from fresh leaves. Bamboo N. affinis (Rendle) Keng f. continuously increases the abundance of phytolith throughout their life, indicating that the accumulation of phytolith relates to transpiration greatly. In the beginning of the growth season, phytolith abundance increase with high rate, suggesting the abundance of phytolith is related to the growth phase of plant. Phytoliths in bamboo have diversiform types. e. Long-saddle, fan-model, dumbbell-model and narrow elliptates phytolith can be used as the diagnostic and characteristic morphology of N. affinis (Rendle) Keng f.. There are distinct changes in phytolith assemblage. Silica short cell silicified firstly, while the other cells deposited silica gradually during the developmental process of leaves and after maturation. Seasonal variations of the concentration of bulliform cell reflect the intensity of leaves’transpiration. The long silica cell maybe has a function to prevent cell from low temperature hurt. The formation of phytolith can be related to morphology and function of cells. Warmth index, influenced by growth, can reflect the variation of temperature at some extent.Research of the isotope of oxygen and carbon in phytolith will improve our understanding of the Silicon Cycle in the earth system, help us to learn physiological mechanism of the phytolith formation and decode the relationship between environment and fractionation of the Oxygen as well as Carbon. Phytolith resists to chemical erosion and degradation, in particular the original information of plants can be preserved in the occluded carbon in phytolith which is always difficult to be contaminated. Thus the capability of preserve for long are in favor of the objectiveness and accuracy of paleo-vegetational, paleo-environmental and paleo-climatical imformation uncovered by the phytolith carbon and oxygen isotope analysis. To investigate the organic components, especially the lipids, within the phytolith will lead us to know why their carbon isotopes are depleted relative to that of the whole carbon in plants, the isotopic range between C3 and C4 phytoliths relative to that for C3 and C4 grass are compressed. This investigation will also explore out whether the lipid in phytolith can be as a potential proxies for paleo-environmental and paleo-climatical reconstruction. To date, the GC-MS analysis of lipids in the phytolith is rarely reported. We also discovered that the lipid in the phytolith can be extracted by solvent through a prior HF acidolysis procedure and then be indentified by GC-MS. As it shows in our results, the lipids in the phytolith bearing in leaves of N. affinis (Rendle) Keng f. are mainly comprised of short chain n-fatty acids, which are a subset of the total lipid in the leaf tissues. These contents maybe affected by the phytolith chemical constituents that discriminate distinct lipids of the leaf cell in the entrapping process.更多还原