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Volatile Compounds On The Leaf Surface Of Intact And Regrowth Tarbush (Flourensia Cernua Dc) Canopies, Ed Frederickson, R. Estell, M. Remmenga

Ed L. Frederickson

Shrub expansion into desert grasslands is a serious problem resulting in loss of forage and rangeland productivity. Flourensia cernua DC (tarbush) is one such shrub contributing to the decline of Chihuahuan Desert grasslands. Our previous research has shown tarbush consumption by sheep and goats to be negatively related to leaf surface concentration of individual terpenes and epicuticular wax. Concentrations of compounds such as terpenes often change with plant age and phenology. Our objective was to examine the effect of altering the vegetative state of tarbush on volatile chemicals. Ninety tarbush plants were randomly selected, and all biomass within 10 cm …