Terpenoids make up the biggest and most diversified class of chemical substances discovered in plants, encompassing over 40,000 individual compounds. In conifers, the production of terpenoids, either as oleoresin or emitted as volatile compounds, play an important role in the physical and chemical defence responses against pathogens and herbivores. In the present work, we examined, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, the terpenic defensive relations of Calabrian pine (Pinus nigra subsp. laricio (Poiret) Maire), facing the attack of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775)), brought about in the open on adult plant individuals growing at two distinct forest sites. Among the volatile terpenoids emitted from pine needles, bornyl acetate [(4,7,7-trimethyl-3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanyl) acetate] was the most frequently and selectively associated with the infestation, increasing during the period of most intense trophic activity of the caterpillars (defoliation), and decreasing thereafter. Although further work is needed to clarify whether the observed response reflects defence reactions and/or they are involved in communication among the infested plants and their biotic environment, the present results boost the currently growing interest in the isolation and characterization of plant secondary metabolites that can be used to control pests, pathogens, and weeds.

中文翻译：

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从卡拉布里亚松林中分析出被松树前进蛾侵染的挥发性萜类化合物

萜类化合物是植物中发现的最大，最多样化的化学物质，涵盖40,000多种化合物。在针叶树中，萜烯类化合物（以油树脂的形式或以挥发性化合物的形式散发）在针对病原体和食草动物的物理和化学防御反应中起着重要作用。在目前的工作中，我们首次据我们所知，首先面对了卡拉伯松（Pinus nigra subsp。laricio （Poiret Maire））的萜类防御关系，面临着松树蛾的侵袭（Thaumetopoea pityocampa）（Denis andSchiffermüller，1775年），这是对在两个不同森林地带生长的成年植物个体进行的公开展示。在松针发出的挥发性萜类化合物中，乙酸冰片酯[（（4,7,7-三甲基-3-双环[2.2.1]庚基）乙酸酯]]最频繁且选择性地与侵染相关，在大多数时期内增加毛毛虫的强烈营养活动（落叶），此后减少。尽管需要做进一步的工作来阐明观察到的反应是否反映了防御反应和/或它们是否参与了受侵染植物及其生物环境之间的交流，但目前的结果激发了人们对分离和表征植物次生代谢产物的兴趣日益增长。可用于控制害虫，病原体和杂草。