Identification of the diterpenoid biosynthesis genes and their expression status in relation to oleoresin yield of masson pine

•A total of 13 DEGs were significantly up-regulated expression in high yielder.•Both MVA and MEP pathways act on diterpene accumulation, MEP has a dominant role.•HMGR and ent-CDS may be as indexes in the young needle for screening high yielder.•IDI and CDS may be as the indexes in trunk xylem for selection of high yielder.•Diterpenoid and DRAs were significantly positively correlated with oleoresin yield.