Toxicity of monoterpenes from Pinus radiata cortical oleoresin to Diplodia pinea spores1

The effect on spore germmation and germ tube growth of Diplodia pinea produced by (+)- α-pinene, (−)-β-pinene, (+)-Δ3-carene, (−)-limonene, β-phellandrene, and terpinolene was determined over a range of vapour concentrations. Spore germination was most inhibited by A3-carene; germ tube growth was inhibited by all these monoterpenes except (−)-limonenc and s-phellandrene. In contrast to the low toxicity of (−)-limonene, (+)-limonene (not known to be present in Pinus radiata cortical oleoresin) was extremely toxic to both spore germination and germ tube growth. The results arc discussed in rotation to an earlier observation that trees free of dieback in the field had high levels of certain monoterpenes.