Gender and aridity drive essential oil chemodiversity in Tunisian Pistacia lentiscus for tailored bioresource valorisation

Abstract

Abstract The essential oil composition of Tunisian female and male Pistacia lentiscus leaves from semi-arid to arid bioclimates was investigated across three phenological stages using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-flame ionization detection (GC-MS/FID). Monoterpene hydrocarbons (44.67–60.59%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (8.18–29.72%) were dominant, with limonene, sabinene, α- and β-pinene, terpinen-4-ol, germacrene D, γ-terpinene and β-caryophyllene as major components. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant chemical differentiation based on plant gender and climatic factors. Male samples showed higher α-pinene and β-pinene content while female samples were enriched in limonene and germacrene D. Semi-arid male samples contained more sabinene, terpinene-4-ol and γ-terpinene than the arid samples. Female specimens from semi-arid zone accumulated higher limonene than arid counterparts. Phenological stage had minor effects. Our study provides three novel findings: (1) We examined sex, climate, and phenology together for the first time. (2) Aridity drives a clear chemotype shift in males—semi-arid males produce sabinene/terpinen-4-ol, arid males produce α/β-pinene. (3) In females, aridity causes a 3- to 10-fold limonene reduction while sesquiterpenes persist, revealing a metabolic trade-off. These findings advance understanding of how this Mediterranean shrub adjusts its chemistry to climate and provide a basis for sex- and climate-based harvesting of tailored essential oils.