Results

Looking at the Figure 10, the concentration of the chemicals is changing over time. For sure, the tree is reacting when the symbiotic fungi of the beetle are present.

The variability of concentrations with different treatments, shows how the tree is able to respond to distinct fungi, increasing the amount of concentration. For example, in presence of L.longiclavatum, the tree is increasing the amount of "p-cymene", "borneol", "beta phellandrene" and "camphor" compare to the other two fungi.

When O. montium is present, the tree is not increasing specifically the level of compounds; only "camphor" and "beta phellandrene" seems specific for both O.montium and L.longiclavatum.

In most of the compounds, when G.calvigera is present, there is the highest amount of concentration, but is not the highest for each single chemical.

Discussion

I can conclude, thinking at the ecological race of development and compromises present between mountain pine beetles and its allies’ fungi, that for survive needs to feed and reproduce at the expenses of the pine trees. Fungi are able to overcoming tree defences, but is not so easy. The tree is responding producing a range of chemicals that are able to kill different pathogens, however with this research there is a proof of specificity in production of chemical produced in presence of different symbiotic fungi related with mountain pine beetle.

Future researches are required in order to know more about why these chemicals are decreasing after 4 weeks and what are the possible correlations with mountain pine beetle attacks.

Acknowledgement

I thank Rashaduz Zaman, Vinicius Goncalves, Guncha Ishangulyyeva, Nadir Erbilgin and Andreas Hamann, for their support and helpful comments.