Terpene relationships among some soft and hard pine species

In this study we have reported the chemical composition of essential oils obtained from needles twelve Pinus taxa, belonging to subgenera (sections and Trifoliae) Strobus (sect. Quinquefoliae). Monoterpenes dominated over sesquiterpenes in most investigated taxa both subgenera, except representatives subsection Pinaster, subgenus Pinus. ?-Pinene was abundant terpene eight pines, but other dominant terpenes were found some - trans-caryophyllene, germacrene D, abietadiene ?-pinene. subsect. compounds varied species species. addition, P. halepensis pinaster had highest percentage diterpenes, while heldreichii richest D. PCA cluster analyses, three Pinaster emerged as distant: halepensis, pinaster, heldreichii. possible taxonomic implications profile analysed also discussed.