Abstract
Exposure of balsam fir trees to SO/sub 2/ can cause increased emission of volatile terpenes from the foliage. This phenomenon may prove to be a more general physiological reaction of conifers to SO/sub 2/. Longer term exposures of scotch pine to the gas in Europe have resulted in a similar increase in terpene emissions. The greater difference between fumigated and control plants in levels of terpene emitted may be particularly relevant to plant-insect relationships. Monoterpene hydrocarbons have been implicated in the attraction of spruce budworm moths to their host trees. After dispersal of many such forest insects, the process of finding a host tree is critical for their survival. It is conceivable that increased levels of attractive terpenes could contribute towards the success of this process. Experiments on host selection behavior of the insects when offered fumigated and unfumigated trees may provide more definitive evidence to support these conclusions.
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