Éva Joó

Emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds from Fraxinus excelsior and Quercus robur under ambient conditions in Flanders (Belgium)

A dynamic branch enclosure system was used to measure emission rates of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) from two common European tree species: Fraxinus excelsior and Quercus robur under ambient conditions in Flanders (Belgium). Both tree species were studied for seasonal variability of BVOC emission rates under natural biotic stress (infestations). Emissions were normalized at standard conditions of temperature and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) (30°C and 1000 µmol m−2 s−1, respectively). Emission rates from Fraxinus excelsior were highest in May (9.56 µg gDW −1 h−1) and lowest in October (1.17 µg gDW −1 h−1). This tree species emitted (Z)-β-ocimene, (E)-β-ocimene and α-farnesene during the entire measurement period and additionally isoprene only in May. Quercus robur showed isoprene emission variations according to the seasonal cycle with rates of 30, 106 and 29 µg gDW −1 h−1 in May, August and October, respectively. Apart from isoprene, (E)-β-ocimene and β-caryophyllene were emitted through the entire experimental period.