Ion-exchange (number of functional group) properties and swelling capacity of leaf cell walls of plant species Betula nana, Salix polaris, Dryas octopetala and Cassiope tetragona from Western Spitsbergen Island were investigated. It was found out that cell wall of Arctic plants is cation exchanger which has similar functional groups (amine groups, carboxyl groups and phenolic OH-groups) with cell wall of boreal plants. In all investigated species, the highest percentage in the structure of the cell wall was recorded for the carboxyl groups of hydroxycinnamic acids and phenolic OH-groups, which are part of phenolic compounds. In comparison with species from other climatic zones leaf cell wall of arctic plants has in 2–3 times higher amount of ion exchange groups of all types as well as the higher values of swelling coefficients. It was proposed that the high values of the ion-exchange capacity and swelling coefficient of the cell wall of all studied species contribute to greater water flow system by the apoplast and enhance the metabolic processes in the cell wall of plants at high latitudes
