Universal Journal of Environmental Research and Technology All Rights Reserved Euresian Publication © 2012 eISSN 2249 0256 Available Online at: www.environmentaljournal.org Volume 2, Issue 6: 525-538 Open Access Research Article 525 Mahmoud and Mohamed Plant Metabolites Responses to Spatial Variation in South Sinai, Egypt Mahmoud R. Sofy 1 and Ahmed A. Mohamed 2 1, Botany and Microbiology Dept. Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar Univ. Cairo, Egypt. 2 Nature Conservation Sector (NCS), Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA). Corresponding author: ahmed.tpa@gmail.com Abstract: The study was conducted to investigate the variation in Plant metabolites adaptive responses which is due to the spatial variation (altitude).In this investigation, samples of two plant species, Fagonia mollis and Zilla spinosa was collected during two seasons, from three locations at different elevation in, south Sinai, Egypt. Evaluation of present methods used for analyzing the major biochemical contents (Soluble Carbohydrate, Water Soluble protein, Proline, Phenol and Photosynthetic Pigments). Results were statistically analyzed by using One- way ANOVA and Post hoc-LSD tests (the least significant difference). Prominent variation was recorded as regards the biochemical constituents of the plants among the different wadis in all stages of growth .It is evident from this study that different biochemical attributes varied significantly during different seasons. It was found that spatial variation play a great role in the variation of these contents resulting from variation in altitudinal and latitudinal variation that lead to variation in climatic conditions and consequently make changes in all ecosystem components. Keywords: Eco physiology, Plant metabolites, Seasonal variation, South Sinai, Spatial variation. 1.0 Introduction: Spatial variation is the variation across the landscape that is normally associated with populations. Factors causing geographic variation include geologic differences that affect soil type, and thus habitat, and weather patterns, e.g., differences in rainfall across the landscape (Ruggiero et al. 1994). Spatial pattern plays a central role in plant community dynamics, such as succession, adaptation, maintenance of species diversity, and competition (Legendre and Fortin, 1989; Purves and Law, 2002). The study of plant spatial pattern is therefore useful for ecological theory and for restoration management. Perry et al. (2006) reviewed a range of plant spatial pattern methods, mainly local and global autocorrelation. They concluded that local analyses provide a potentially useful means of taking the ‘plant’s-eye view’ (Purves and Law, 2002) and thereby link spatial pattern with ecological theory. Physiological, biochemical and now also molecular mechanisms putatively favourable for adaptation to these conditions are assessed in the laboratory. Their actual action and effectiveness then must again be tested in the field, since it is not always given that traits intuitively considered favourable for ecological adaptation correlate with actual ecological distribution of plants (Lambers et al., 1998, Larcher 2003). Environmental stress can disrupt cellular structures and impair key physiological functions (Larcher, 2003). Drought, salinity, and low temperature stress impose an osmotic stress that can lead to turgor loss. Different plant species are highly variable with respect to their optimum environments, and a harsh environmental condition, which is harmful for one plant species, might not be stressful for another (Larcher, 2003; Munns and Tester, 2008). Number of plant quality traits change with elevation including foliar nitrogen (Erelli et al. 1998, Hengxiao et al. 1999, Richardson 2004), defensive chemistry such as alkaloids, Coumadin’s, phenolics, and terpenes (Erelli et al. 1998, Hengxiao et al. 1999, Salmore and Hunter 2001, Alonso et al. 2005), structural compounds such as lignin and cellulose (Richardson 2004), and leaf morphology (Hengxiao et al. 1999). El- Shourbagy (1974) reported that the decrease in total