Only a few of the 16 taxa of Juniperus in the United States have been examined for their yields and composition of cedarwood oil. Although the biocidal properties of cedarwood have been public knowledge for generations, only one U.S. species, J. virginiana, has been examined for termiticidal activity. Preliminary research has revealed that one western species produces cedarwood oil in yield and composition comparable to the commercial species currently utilized and another species has antibiotics in the leaves that are more active than streptomycin sulfate against some bacteria and more active than Amphotericin B against some fungi. In the arid grasslands of the western United States millions of acres have been invaded by juniper and this has resulted in decreased grazing and increased costs for the ranchers in land clearing. Juniperus ashei, J. californica, J. er'vthrocarpa, J. deppeana, J. mono.@perma, J. occidentalis' J. osteosperma, J. pinchotii, and J. scopulorum will be analyzed for their volatile wood oil yields and composition, antimicrobial and termiticidal activities. The three most promising species will be further analyzed in regard to their ratios of leaves, to bark, sapwood, and heartwood. The leaves and wood will be further examined for the 3 selected species to determine the yields of various phytochemicals that might give added value for a commercial operation.The potential commercial application as described by the awardee: A whole-plant processing facility could be developed utilizing the cedarwood oils, biocides, speciality phytochemicals such as waxes and the residue for fuel. Millions of acres ot' shrublands could be harvested and some chlorinated biocides replaced by natural compounds.
