Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

2020

Abstract

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carriére; hemlock) is an eastern North American conifer threatened by the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand). Changes in foliar terpenes and phenolics were evaluated in new (current year growth) and mature (1-year old growth) hemlock needles during the growing season and into plant dormancy. From April through September, foliar concentrations of non-volatile soluble phenolics, condensed tannins, lignin, mono- and sesquiterpenes α-pinene, camphene, isobornyl acetate, and diterpene resin were quantified. After September, additional analyses of metabolites that continued to differ significantly in new versus mature foliage were carried out. Total soluble phenolic concentration and condensed tannin concentration in new foliage remained low relative to mature foliage throughout the growing season and converged in December. Lignin concentration in new foliage converged with that of mature foliage by July. Concentrations of α-pinene, camphene, isobornyl acetate, and diterpene resin in new foliage converged with mature foliage within one month of budbreak. The convergence of terpene concentrations in new and mature foliage suggests that these metabolites may play a role in herbivore defense during the peak growing season. Conversely, soluble phenolics, including condensed tannins, may defend foliage from herbivory outside of the spring growth period.

Comment

Ian G. Kinahan, Chad M. Rigsby, Suzanne K. Savage, Nick L. Houseman, Andrew S. Marsella and Evan L. Preisser are from the Department of Biological Sciences.

Brenton L. DeBoef is from the Department of Chemistry.

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