Abstract Genetic variation of monoterpenes in cortex oleoresin was determined for Scotch pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.). Samples were obtained from trees growing in a common environment in Michigan and representing 108 seed sources from Europe and Asia. Monoterpene composition varied greatly withgeographic origin and generally paralleled the variation patterns for other traits of Scotch pine. Alpha-pinene and 3-carene were the most variable of the 11 terpenes detected. Variation patterns in the near-continuous range of north-central Europe may provide information about the evolutionaryhistory of Scotch pine. Most isolated populations in southern Europe were low in 3-carene, supporting the hypothesis that they are probably Tertiary relics. Monoterpene composition and growth rate were uncorrelated. Forest Sci. 17:293-299.
Tobolski et al. (Wed,) studied this question.