The effects of the pine sac beetle (<i>Thaumetopoea pityocampa</i> Schiff.) on total phenolic compounds and photosynthetic pigment contents in pine species (<i>Pinus nigra</i> L. and <i>Pinus brutia</i> Ten.)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the pine sac beetle (Thaumetopoea pityocampa Schiff.) on the pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids) and total phenolic compounds in the Pinus nigra L. and Pinus brutia Ten. spread throughout the forest areas in the Boyabat District of the Sinop Province. It was found that chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids contents were lower on the leaves of the P. nigra and P. brutia which had pine sac beetles in comparison to those not having pine sac beetles. It was also observed that the contents of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b were decreased on the stems of both species but there was no significant change in the contents of carotenoid. The phenolic compound levels increased in the leaves and the stems of P. nigra and P. brutia which had pine sac beetles compared to those that did not have pine sac beetles.

Key words: Phenolic compounds, photosynthetic pigments, Pinus nigra, Pinus brutia, Thaumetopoea pityocampa.