High vs. low yielding oleoresin Pinus halepensis Mill. trees GC terpenoids profiling as diagnostic tool

A discriminant study based on samples taken from high and low yielding oleoresin trees of two Greek populations, Chalkidiki and Euboia, was carried out. Oleoresin of Pinus halepensis Mill. was characterised by GC/MS analysis. The objectives of this study were: (i) to identify in detail the composition of the oleoresin of P. halepensis and in particular of high yielding trees (plus trees) (ii) to investigate a potential relationship between the oleoresin compounds and the oleoresin yield and (iii) to investigate any correlations among the compounds. About forty monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and diterpenes were identified as main compounds representing 97.40% of the analyzed oleoresin. alpha-Pinene, methyl abietate, abietic acid, palustric acid, isopimaric acid and neoabietic acid were the major compounds. Efficient discrimination was achieved between the two populations and between the two groups of trees (high and low yielding). In both cases, the differentiation was due to the quantitative variability of certain compounds. High positive correlations were found among certain compounds. The results suggest that the oleoresin profile is a useful tool for the discrimination of trees according to their provenance or their oleoresin yield.