Terpenes of ponderosa pine and feeding preferences by pocket gophers

Abstract

Yield and composition of essential oils were compared in foliage, stems, and roots of ponderosa pine seedlings, and preferences for the trees by pocket gophers were determined. Test seedlings represented nine widely separated provenances in the western United States. Seed source of the trees influenced gopher feeding preferences and resulted in varied tree damage. The damage ranged from 0 to 31%, suggesting that some sources might possess sufficient natural resistance to give trees practical protection from gophers in the field. There were no morphological differences among sources to explain differential tree damage. All sources contained essential oils in all tissues examined, but oil yield varied among and within tissue types. Oils were predominantly (76-97%) composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons. Oil composition varied by source, and different tissue types varied greatly in the yield and composition of their oils. Neither yield nor constituents of foliage oils were significantly correlated with gopher damage (or preference). In contrast, some components of stem and root oils were strongly related to preference. Results of correlation and discriminant analyses showed that some oil constituents could serve as indicators of resistance (or susceptibility) to gopher damage. Such important chemical variables, when verified, could be used in selections for ponderosa pine resistant to gophers.