Essential oil yield and composition of Pistacia vera 'Kerman' fruits, peduncles and leaves grown in California.
BACKGROUND
Pistacia vera 'Kerman' is the predominant pistachio nut cultivar in the United States (California), the world's second largest producer. Despite several reports on the essential oil (EO) content in the genus Pistacia, data on 'Kerman' are limited. The EO content and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions of tree nut orchards are of current interest to researchers investigating insect pests and the potential role of EO and VOCs as semiochemicals. To establish a basis for the VOC output of pistachios, the EO content of fruits, peduncles, and leaves was analyzed.


RESULTS
Evaluated plant parts contained limonene as the primary EO component, followed by alpha-terpinolene. Peduncles were unique in containing relatively high levels of alpha-thujene. The results were reproducible between two different geographical locations. In situ solid phase microextraction (SPME) studies demonstrated the volatile emission was representative of the EO composition.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report detailing the content and distribution of EO and the unique limonene-dominant profile for this Pistacia vera cultivar which may influence pistachio insect pest semiochemical research.
Dragull
Klaus
K
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Regional Research Center, Plant Mycotoxin Research, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA. klaus.dragull@ars.usda.gov
Beck
John J
JJ
Merrill
Glory B
GB
D000818:Animals; D002140:California; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000032:analysis; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D007300:Insect Control; D007313:Insecta; D000077222:Limonene; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D027927:Pistacia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D018514:Plant Structures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D014835:Volatilization
D053138:Cyclohexenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013729:Terpenes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D000077222:Limonene