A snowy field of evergreen trees, with branches lightly dusted in snow, surrounded by a tranquil winter forest backdrop.
The Christmas tree industry is worth more than $2.5 billion, but like most crops, it suffers losses from disease, herbivores, and drought. To help breeders improve the trees’ traits and hardiness, researchers in the Department of Plant Biology are investigating how the trees’ distinctive scent could help keep pests at bay. (Christmas tree farm in Berks, PA from Getty Images.)

Christmas Trees’ Distinctive Aroma Helps Ward off Pathogens and Pests

Plant biologists seek the ideal scent blend to attract consumers and deter pests

  • by Liana Wait

Each year, nearly 30 million Americans purchase a real tree for the holidays. Growing the perfect Christmas tree takes about seven years, during which farmers need to keep insects, fungal pathogens and hungry deer at bay. While researchers suspect the distinctive piney smell the trees emit plays a role in deterring these pests, not all trees smell the same, and which chemical blends confer resistance is unclear.

Philipp Zerbe, a UC Davis professor of plant biology, and his team are working to uncover the optimal combination of scent molecules that will deter pests and provide the traditional fragrance consumers expect. Ultimately, the project aims to help breeders improve the trees’ traits and hardiness.

“Through this project, we hope to give the breeders trees that are more resistant to herbivores and microbial disease, and also trees that people really enjoy having in their homes,” said Zerbe.

Read the full article here.