Abstract
A comparative study of the volatile terpene fraction isolated from the leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis attacked by the gall wasp (Leptocybe invasa) and from the healthy leaves of the plant was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 59 components representing 89.13 and 88.6%, respectively, of their total volatile fraction contents were analyzed. Of these volatiles, 26 compounds with concentrations greater than (0.1± 0.02%) have been used for statistical comparison. A number of 21of these compounds were identified, in different concentrations, in the leaves volatile fraction of both healthy plants and plants attacked by the wasps. The other 5 volatiles: p-mentha-2-4(8) diene, δ-elemene, β-elemene, E-caryophyllene and bicyclogermacrene, were exclusively found in the volatile fraction of the attacked leaves. The newly produced compounds in the attacked leaves or the change in concentration of those commonly found in that fraction, could be part of the plant defense mechanisms, or/and an element of the plant allelopathic and communication mechanisms. Identifying the components of the gall wasp-damaged leaves can help in their recycling for different physiological, pharmacological and medicinal uses. Key words: Eucalyptus, gall wasp, plant defense mechanisms, plant recycling, terpene fraction.
Highlights
Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Myrtaceae) (Figure 1) is one of the best known species of the genus Eucalyptus in the Middle East, its importance relay on the high production of its unique volatiles composition that exhibits medicinal and pharmacological activity
E. camaldulensis offers a broad spectrum of physiological, pharmacological and medicinal properties, which are ascribed to its volatile constituents that enable the use of E. camaldulensis oil as antimicrobial and antifungal (Sartorelli et al, 2007; Barra et al, 2010; Gilles et al, 2010; Panahi et al, 2011), antioxidant (Akolade et al, 2012), antispasmodic (Begum et al, 2000), inseticide, larvicide, pesticide and antimalarial (Batish et al, 2008; Cheng et al, 2009; Alzogaray et al, 2011) agent
The gas chromatographic analysis of the volatile terpene fraction produced by E.camaldulensis leaves attacked by the gall wasp L. invasa (ALTF, Figure 2B) and the healthy leaves of the same plant (HLTF, Figure 2A) allowed the separation and identification of 59 components representing 89.13 and 88.60% of the total fraction contents respectively
Summary
Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Myrtaceae) (Figure 1) is one of the best known species of the genus Eucalyptus in the Middle East, its importance relay on the high production of its unique volatiles composition that exhibits medicinal and pharmacological activity. The volatile constituents in Eucalyptus have been extensively studied (Zrira et al, 2004; Barra et al, 2010; Elaissi et al, 2011, 2012; Akolade et al, 2012). All these investigations revealed the major constituents to be qualitatively more or less the same; quantitatively they are very different. E. camaldulensis offers a broad spectrum of physiological, pharmacological and medicinal properties, which are ascribed to its volatile constituents that enable the use of E. camaldulensis oil as antimicrobial and antifungal (Sartorelli et al, 2007; Barra et al, 2010; Gilles et al, 2010; Panahi et al, 2011), antioxidant (Akolade et al, 2012), antispasmodic (Begum et al, 2000), inseticide, larvicide, pesticide and antimalarial (Batish et al, 2008; Cheng et al, 2009; Alzogaray et al, 2011) agent
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