Occurrence and correlations of monoterpene hydrocarbon enantiomers in Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies.

Abstract

The relative amounts and enantiomeric compositions of monoterpene hydrocarbons in branch and trunk xylem, in needles, and in resin from apical buds in 18 Pinus sylvestris trees have been determined and compared with the terpene content in branch xylem and needles of Picea abies. Besides the high amount of (+)-3-carene, an excess of (+)-α-pinene has been found in P. sylvestris, whereas in P. abies (−)-α-pinene dominates over (+)-α-pinene. In P. sylvestris, clear positive correlations were found between (+)-α-pinene and (+)-camphene in the four tissues analyzed. Good positive correlations were also observed between (−)-α-pinene and (−)-camphene in the two types of xylem, between (+)-α-pinene and (+)-β-pinene in the resin, and between tricyclene and (−)-camphene in resin and needles. In P. abies, positive correlations were found between (+)-α-pinene and (+)-camphene in the branch xylem and between tricyclene and (−)-camphene as well as between (−)-α-pinene and (−)-camphene in the needles. Complex relationships between (−)-α-pinene and (−)-β-pinene were found both in the P. abies and in the P. sylvestris tissues. The importance of the enantiomeric composition of α-pinene for the host selection of Ips typographus, Tomicus piniperda, and Hylobius abietis is discussed.