Differentiation of fruiting and non-fruiting Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. trees based on composition of leaf volatiles

Leaf oil from fruiting female and non-fruiting male Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr. trees, were analyzed by CC. Oil yields from male pimento trees (2.13%) were typically lower than that for female trees (2.67%). Non-fruiting and fruiting trees contained the same volatile components with different relative abundances. The composition of eugenol (p < 0.01), and myrcene, alpha-phellandrene, gamma-terpinene, terpinolene and alpha-thujene (p < 0.005) were significantly different in the female versus the in-ale pimento trees. Characteristic monoterpenoid profiles were observed for the fruiting and non-fruiting pimento trees which could be used for the early prediction of the berry bearing ability of pimento trees.