The group composition of epicuticular waxes of the five Polish varieties of Solanum tuberosum were studied by HPLC, GC, and GC/MS. Alkanes, alcohols (primary and secondary), fatty acids and ketones (terminal and internal) were identified and quantified. The quantitative compositional results were analysed by chemometrie methods such as cluster and principal component analysis. A correlation was found between Colorado potato beetle infestation and quantities of specific chemical groups in epicuticular waxes.

The process of plant selection by insects is mediated by repellents and attractants. Several compounds may be involved in this interaction. Thus intraspecific variation of the compounds concentration play an important role in the herbivory. The best tool for the characteristic of this variation is chemometrics. The strategy of the analysis with the use of literature data on terpen es and sesquiterpenes variations in Pin us caribaea needles in relation to Atta laevigata herbivory is exemplified herein. Simple cluster analysis and principal components analysis were used for the data study. Two factors were found lo be sufficient to describe total variation in more than 90%. Factor I is responsible for repellent properties. From factor loading, the relevant chemical compounds were identified.