Screening of 18 Mediterranean plant species for volatile organic compound emissions

TitleScreening of 18 Mediterranean plant species for volatile organic compound emissions
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1997
AuthorsOwen, S., Boissard C., Street R. A., Duckham S. C., Csiky O., & Hewitt C. N.
JournalAtmospheric Environment
Volume31, Supple
Pagination101-117
KeywordsArbutus unedo, Biogenic emissions, branch enclosure, Chrysanthemum praecox, cistus incanus, Cistus salvifolius, Cytisus sp., Dittrichia sp., Erica arborea, Erica multiflora, Helichrysum stoechas, isoprene, Juniperus oxycedrus, Juniperus phoenicea, Monoterpene, myrtus communis, Phillyrea angustifolia, Pinus pinea, Quercus cerris, Quercus ilex, Rubus fruticosus, Spartium junceum, VOCs
Abstract

Eighteen tree and shrub species were screened for emissions of isoprene and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at three locations at Castelporziano (Italy) using a bag-enclosure sampling method followed by GC analysis. Thirty emitted compounds were identified. Temperature sensitivity of emissions of monoterpenes varied between species. Strong temperature dependencies were found for isoprene emissions. For monoterpene-emitting plant species with greatest ground cover in the dunes and macchia habitats, α-pinene, β-pinene and sabinene appeared to be the most frequently and abundantly emitted compounds. Isoprene was the major emission from the shrub species screened in the forest. Emissions from four dominant plant species were scaled up to estimate total fluxes from the dunes and macchia over a daytime period. Species with greatest biomass but low emission rates made a substantial contribution to total emissions.