Infestation by a Nalepella species induces emissions of α- and β-farnesenes, (−)-linalool and aromatic compounds in Norway spruce clones of different susceptibility to the large pine weevil

The emissions of spruce grafts (Picea abies), caused by infestation of an acarid species of the genus Nalepella were investigated. Volatiles of three clones, both healthy and infested, with different susceptibility to the large pine weevil Hylobius abietis were collected by solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatograph coupled to mass-spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, enantiomers of the main chiral compounds were separated by a two dimensional-gas chromatograph (2D-GC). In the characteristic flower-like fragrances emitted by the infested grafts large amounts of E-β-farnesene, E,E-α-farnesene, (−)-linalool, methyl salicylate and minute amounts of benzyl alcohol, E-anethole, methyl benzoate, neral and geranial were found. All together, these compounds could explain the characteristic scent emitted by the infested seedlings. Large differences in the emissions of E-β-farnesene, E,E-α-farnesene and methyl salicylate were found between but not within the clones. Handling editor: Heikki Hokkanen.