Senescent foliage from pines is potentially a large contributor to the total monoterpene content of the litter layer, and the availability of these compounds as phytotoxins may result from release of these compounds into the vapor phase. In order to determine the fate of several monoterpene hydrocarbons in the natural environment, we examined their concentrations in fresh, senescent, and decaying needles from 32 single-leaf pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla Torr. & Frem.: Pinaceae) trees growing at two different locations. Total monoterpene content was highest in the fresh needles (mean=5.6 ± 2.2 mg/g extracted air dry weight), but also remained relatively high in senescent needles (mean=3.6 ±1.8 mg/g extracted air dry weight), either still attached to the tree or forming the freshest layer of understory litter. Decaying needles within a dark decomposing layer of litter material 5-20 cm from the surface were found to contain much lower amounts of total monoterpenes (average: =0.12 ±0.06 mg/g extracted air dry weight). Further investigation of the fate of these compounds in the pinyon understory is required to determine if these hydrocarbons are indeed exerting phytotoxic characteristics.

No abstract

A headspace air-sampling experiment was performed in the laboratory to determine the identity and concentrations of monoterpene hydrocarbons that could be attained in the vapor phase surrounding single-leaf pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla Torr. & Frem.) understory litter using controlled air collection conditions at a simulated field temperature of 37.8°C. The total monoterpene hydrocarbon content in 21 sequential samples of air collected from a sealed glass carboy packed with 1.44 kg of single-leaf pinyon litter equivalent to a bulk density of 0.15 g/cm(3) averaged 3.56 ± 1.04 mg/liter. The monoterpenesα-pinene and camphene were present in the vapor phase at the highest concentrations, averaging 2.40±0.64 and 0.68±0.22 mg/ liter, respectively. Myrcene,β-pinene, 3-carene,β-phellandrene, andγ-terpinene were all present at average concentrations below 0.30 mg/liter. The first two traps of the sequential air samples yielded the highest concentrations for the monoterpene hydrocarbons; however, the average total levels were relatively stable throughout the remaining 19 traps. Therefore, the data indicate that these hydrocarbons volatilize from the source pinyon litter and maintain an equilibrium in the vapor phase. Although this analysis was conducted using an artificial system, combined with results from our previous studies, mounting evidence indicates that monoterpene hydrocarbons present in the vapor phase of the single-leaf pinyon understory may be toxic to a variety of native plant species and thus further implicates allelopathy as a significant contributor to the observed patterning of associated vegetation in these forests.

No abstract

Prescribed burning of slash following tree harvest is a standard practice to reduce fire hazard and prepare seed beds for planting conifers. This study examined the co‐occurrence and intensity of hydrophobic and allelopathic layers created in sand pits under burned slash piles and broadcast slash. Following slash burning, 24 sand cores were taken from the sand pits and analyzed for water repellency and allelopathic effects on germination, emergence, and height growth of a bioassay species, blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus Buckley). Water drop penetration that was instantaneous in untreated sand cores was delayed in sand cores from burn treatments for 5 to 90 s in seven cores and for >270 s in five cores. Seedling emergence and height of the bioassay species declined in both the created hydrophobic sand layer and in an allelopathic zone of wettable sand immediately below the hydrophobic layer. Lack of allelopathic response when free water was present suggests that allelopathic effects are exhibited only under unsaturated soil conditions. Results indicate that nonwettable soils and allelopathy effects will act in unison to reduce water penetration and slow plant establishment following wildfires or prescribed burns.