Individual variation in low boiling point monoterpenes emitted from hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) needles

Variations in the compositions of low-boilingpoint (LBP) monoterpenes in needle samples of 50 hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) trees were investigated using the headspace technique. Considerable compositional variations were revealed, especially in sabinene composition. The sabinene composition varied from 4.9% to 78.0% of the total LBP monoterpenes.α-Pinene, myrcene, and limonene also showed considerable variations (9.0%–32.7%, 5.5%–22.6%, 3.6%–29.0% respectively). Analysis of the monoterpene composition allowed definition of four chemotypes based on the contingency table test. No correlation was observed between tree size and LBP monoterpene composition, indicating that the compositional variation in LBP monoterpene exists genetically in this population of hinoki.