In this study, the effects of elevation on cone morphological traits and on the essential oil composition of leaves and cones were investigated in Juniperus turbinata Guss. populations naturally distributed in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. In cone and leaf samples collected from different altitudes, cone width, cone length, thousand grain weight, and dry matter rate were determined, while volatile compound analyses were performed using the HS-SPME technique coupled with GC–MS. The results revealed statistically significant negative relationships between altitude and the measured cone physical traits. A total of 64 volatile constituents were identified in the cone samples and 62 in the leaf samples, with α-pinene and myrcene emerging as the major components in both plant organs. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) demonstrated that essential oil composition differs markedly between plant organs and that certain major constituents exhibit altitude-related variation. The findings indicate that morphological and chemical variability in J. turbinata is sensitive to environmental gradients, underscoring the need to consider altitude specific populations in the development of conservation and management strategies for the species.
Öğüt et al. (Sun,) studied this question.