Detection of biogenic volatile organic compounds emitted from common tropical plant species in the western ghats region of India: chamber-based experiments

Abstract

This study deals with emission of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) from some common plant species found in the Western Ghats of India using branchenclosure experiments. A custom-made dynamic chamber system was deployed to collect samples from seven different plant species. Analysis of speciated BVOCs was performed using C2–C6 and C6–C12 VOC analysers to determine the emission composition and relative concentration. Isoprene was the most abundant compound, followed by ethene, propene, α-pinene and βpinene. Among the plant species, Tectona grandis, Bambusa vulgaris and Psidium guajava showed high fractions of isoprene emission, Saraca asoca showed moderate emission, and Manilkara zapota and Leucaena leucocephala showed the lowest emission. However, M. zapota and L. leucocephala showed higher emission of both ethene and propene compared to isoprene. This study emphasizes the importance of emission flux measurements of major plant species in different forest regions of India, which is necessary to make emission inventories of important BVOCs.