Characteristics of BVOCs emitted from representative tree species in South Korea according to environmental influences

Abstract

This study was conducted to understand emission characteristics of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted from representative tree species planted in South Korea. For broad-leaved species, isoprene emission was found to be significantly different depending on environmental factors (temperature and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)) except for Chionanthus retusus. On the other hand, for monoterpenes, except for Acer palmatum and Zelkova serrata, significant results were not obtained in emission change according to environmental factors. In the case of conifers, there were significant differences according to environmental factors in tree species excluding Chamaecyparis obtusa. Monoterpenes known to be affected only by temperature were also affected by PAR. Standard emission rate (under standard environmental conditions, 30 °C, 1000 μmol m−2 s−1) of isoprene was the highest for genus Quercus, a forest species (3174 to 11,914 ngC gdw−1 h−1). For monoterpenes, Pinus thunbergii, a forest species, had the highest emission rate (3524 ngC gdw−1 h−1), followed by Metasequoia glyptostroboides, an urban forest species (2087 ngC gdw−1 h−1). Composition ratios of monoterpenes showed a clear difference between broad-leaved species and conifers. In the case of conifers, α-pinene and d-limonene were dominant monoterpenes, whereas ratios of these two compounds were very small in broad-leaved species.