Ebetafarnesene

Ebetafarnesene, also written as E-β-farnesene, is a natural sesquiterpene hydrocarbon belonging to the farnesene family. It is an acyclic sesquiterpene containing three isoprene units and several carbon–carbon double bonds in the E configuration. As a volatile organic compound, it readily evaporates at ambient temperatures and contributes to the aroma profile of certain plants.

Ebetafarnesene occurs in a variety of plant species, with notable amounts reported in the skin of ripe apples (Malus domestica) and in other fruits and leaves. It is produced in plants from farnesyl diphosphate by dedicated farnesene synthase enzymes, and its emission can be induced by herbivory, wounding, or environmental stress. In plants, this volatile can participate in indirect defenses by signaling to natural enemies of herbivores.

In insects, particularly aphids, E-β-farnesene serves as an alarm pheromone released when alarmed, prompting nearby conspecifics to disperse. The compound’s ecological role extends to plant–insect interactions: plant emissions can influence predator and parasitoid behavior, contributing to tri-trophic signaling. Because of its ecological functions, Ebetafarnesene has attracted interest for pest-management research, including the development of attractants or repellents and integration into biological-control strategies in agricultural systems.