Cone and foliage volatiles emitted by Pinus cembra and some related conifer species

Volatiles emitted by cones and foliage of the Swiss stone pine (Pinus cembra), as well as cone volatiles emitted by some Other conifers (Picea abies, Abies alba, Pinus uncinata, P. sylvestris, P. koraiensis, P. pumila, P. peuce, P. strobus, P. parviflora, P. wallichiana and P. armandi) were collected, using headspace techniques and analyzed by GC-mass spectrometry. The same major monoterpenes, i.e. alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, and limonene+beta-phellandrene were found in both the cone, and foliage volatiles of Swiss stone pine. The monoterpene profile did not vary among cones from the same tree, or among different geographic origins. A few differences were noted between trees from the same stand, and over cone development. In other conifers, cone emissions consisted of the same monoterpenes, plus 3-carene, with specific proportions related to tree species. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.