Variation and inheritance of terpenes in scots pine

Abstract

Qualitative and quantitative variation of some terpene compounds in pine needles was determined using static headspace gas chromatography (HSGC) in order to obtain information about the inheritance and gene control of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) terpenes. Needles of more than 600 trees or seedlings belonging to a control-pollinated and its open-pollinated progeny were analysed. The terpenes were identified by headspace gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric techniques. The terpene patterns obtained by HSGC for the needle volatile fraction and by GC for the hydrodistilled needle volatile oil did not differ much. The hybrids obtained in the control-pollinated crosses were either the high or low 3-carene chemotype. Their open-pollinated seedlings were also of these two chemotypes. The quantitative variation in the terpene concentrations permitted construction of a frequency distribution diagram for each terpene compound. The evidence from the bimodal distribution indicates that the relative amounts of monoterpenes 0-pinene, sabinene, 3-careneI myrcene and terpinolene in Pinus sylvestris L. are simply inherited, i.e. controlled by a single gene with major gene effects. The rest of the monoterpenes and all the sesquiterpenes were normally distributed and their inheritance thus seems to be of a polygenic nature.

Seasonal and geographical variation of terpenes, resin acids and total phenolics in nursery grown seedlings of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

“…This may indicate that the formation of tricyciene and camphene is to some extent connected with the formation of 3-carene, Howei'er, in the present study there was less camphene and tricyciene in trees rich in 3-carene, Yadzani et al (1982) also found that the low proportional quantity of myrcene in P. sylvestris cortical oleoresin was in many clones associated with high 3-carene and low limonene quantity. With apinene and 3-earene Pohjola et al (1989) found a strong negative correlation which uas also observed in the present material.…”

“…In pine needles the relative amounts of y5-pinene, sabinene, ^-carene and myrcene are inherited (Hiltunen et al, 1975a;Pohjola, Hiltunen & Schantz 1989). Hiltunen (1976) found that the proportions of tricyciene and camphene were slightly higher in trees with a high proportion of 3-carene.…”

Genetic and correlation analysis of oleoresin chemical components in slash pine

“…Most of the research conducted on the genetic analysis of the oleoresin compositions, has been focused only on one or a few components limited by the concurrent conditions and resources (Hanover, 1966;Squillace, 1971;Squillace et al, 1980;Yazdani et al, 1982;Pohjola et al, 1989;Gallis, 2005).…”

“…The genetic variation and correlations between the major components of slash pine oleoresin help determine the selection of genetic resources of superior, high quality resin and emerges as the fundamental basis for the selective breeding of the principal components. Previous researches on genetic analysis of the resin compositions focused on only one or a few components (Hanover, 1966;Squillace, 1971;Squillace et al, 1980;Yazdani et al, 1982;Pohjola et al, 1989;Gallis, 2005). According to data available, we are of the opinion that, at least for P. elliottii, this is the first comprehensive study on the genetic analysis of the majority of resin components.…”

Encoding of plant odours by receptor neurons in the pine weevil (Hylobius abietis) studied by linked gas chromatography-electrophysiology

“…Therefore, relatively long suction periods were used, and trapping of volatiles were made from several plant species as well as from large quantities of the plants. Furthermore, it eliminated individual differences between trees which is reported in several investigations (Thorin and Nommik 1974;Hiltunen et al 1975a, b;Squillace 1976;Pohjola et al 1989;Sch6nwitz et al 1989;Borg-Karlson et al 1994). The amount of the trapped volatile mixture is another aspect of importance.…”