Time-Scale Shifting of Volatile Semiochemical Levels in Wild Type Lychnophora ericoides (Brazilian arnica) and Pollinator Records

Lychnophora ericoides is a Brazilian folk phytomedicine from Cerrados campus rupestris. Its volatile organic compounds includes bisabolene-derivatives as major compounds. Herein we provide the chemical profiling of constitutive volatile sesquiterpenes from L. ericoides leaves, timeframe emissions surveys, and pollinators records. In situ samples of L. ericoides were harvested. A headspace-solid phase micro extraction method of pre-concentration was optimized. Identification was done through GC-MS. Isolation and structural elucidation were performed whenever necessary. Pollinators were registered in pictures and video. Short time-series and harmonic regressions determined rhythms of single compounds, and average chromatographic signal area was used to determine mono and sesquiterpene rhythms. Concluding, optimized headspace-solid phase micro extraction method of terpenes level analysis was reached. alpha -Pinene, beta -pinene, alpha -terpinene, para -cymene, limonene, gamma -terpinene, terpinen-4-ol, dehydro-sesquicineole, and beta -guaiene were identified using GC-MS data. 11-dehydro cadinol and ortho- acetoxy bisabolol were elucidated. Sesquiterpenes concentrations were higher due to temperature rise, lower leaf age, and flowering seasons. Harmonic regressions determined that daylight might control levels of terpenes. Hummingbird, hemiptera insects, and wasps were recorded visiting Compositae capitulum for the first time. We studied nondomestic plants from in situ conditions and concluded that bisabolene-derivative levels were more abundant than monoterpenes during flowering throughout the summer.

Automated summary

This study investigated the volatile organic compounds of Lychnophora ericoides, a Brazilian folk medicinal plant, through chemical analysis, emission surveys, and pollinator records. It was found that sesquiterpene concentrations were higher in younger leaves, with rising temperatures and during flowering seasons, while terpene levels may be controlled by daylight. Hummingbirds, hemiptera insects, and wasps were observed visiting the plants for the first time, and bisabolene-derivatives were found to be more abundant than monoterpenes during the flowering season throughout the summer.