This is the first report of light-dependent monoterpene emissions from an oak species native to Asia. Isoprenoids emitted by
Quercus phillyraeoides were measured using branch enclosure methods. Sabinene, and α- and β-pinenes were the major compounds accounting for more than 90% of the total monoterpene emissions. The basal emission rates of total monoterpenes on leaf area and leaf dry weight bases ranged from 0.07 to 6.30 nmol m
−2 s
−1 and from 0.22 to 14.3 μg g
−1 h
−1, respectively. A proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry measurement revealed that the emissions depend significantly on light intensity and leaf temperature.
Q. phillyraeoides may be taxonomically close to European monoterpene-emitting oaks because it is morphologically close to the oaks native to the Mediterranean area, and because the geographical features of their habitats are similar to each other.
View full abstract