Natural Product Defensive Chemistry of Douglas-Fir, Western Spruce Budworm Success and Forest Management Practices

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Applied Entomology

Publication Date

1983

Issue

1-5

Volume

96

Publisher

Wiley and Sons

First Page

173

Last Page

182

Abstract

The effect of several natural plant products in the foliage of Douglas‐fir was investigated in populations from Montana and New Mexico to determine their influence, if any, on western spruce budworm success. Trees from both sites were found to be resistant to the budworm mainly due to terpene chemistry, variation in budburst, and tree vigor. The terpene complement that was associated with resistant trees in Montana was different than that found in New Mexico. Agar diet studies indicated that bornyl acetate and beta‐pinene, when present in high concentrations similar to those found in the foliage of resistant trees, increased larval stage duration and reduced dry weight production. Based on these data, several suggestions are explored as to the way in which defensive chemistry could be used in silvicultural practices.

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