Analysis of Scents Emitted from Flowers of Interspecific Hybrids between Carnation and Fragrant Wild Dianthus Species

Abstract

Most modern carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cultivars have weak fragrances dominated by the scent of methyl benzoate. Wild Dianthus species with strong or unique scents may be useful gene resources for the improvement of carnation fragrances. We investigated the scents of interspecific hybrids between carnations and fragrant wild species by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and evaluated the usefulness of wild species for fragrant breeding in carnations. Dianthus hungaricus, which produced large amounts of various benzenoids, was crossed with a carnation with a floral scent dominated by methyl benzoate, but benzenoid diversity was not increased in the interspecific hybrid. We also analyzed some existing interspecific hybrids. Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus had high amounts of β-ocimene and β-caryophyllene. These terpenoids were acquired as principal scent compounds by some interspecific hybrids between this species and a carnation lacking terpenoids. Three unidentified wild species (Dianthus sp. 4, 5, and 6) emitted high amounts of benzenoids, including eugenol, benzyl alcohol, methyl o-anisate, and methyl salicylate. These benzenoids were also detected in interspecific hybrids between carnations and the wild species, and the amounts were increased compared to the parental carnation. The emission of these scent compounds of wild Dianthus species was inherited by most hybrids lines; the variety and amounts of scent compounds tended to increase compared to parental carnations, although there was no general hereditary pattern. As we actually sensed the fragrances of the principal compounds from some hybrid flowers, the usefulness of interspecific hybridizations for the improvement of flower fragrances was confirmed. Dianthus superbus var. longicalycinus and Dianthus sp. 4, 5, and 6 seemed promising resources regarding the addition of terpenoids and the increase in benzenoid variation in the floral volatiles of carnations.

Sequence Analysis of the Genome of Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.)

“…Floral scent is a notable breeding target for carnation. 47 Methylation by S -adenosyl- l -methionine-dependent methyltransferases belonging to SABATH family, 48 is an important catalytic process for emission of scent components from flowers. Methyl benzoate that is a major scent component of modern carnation cultivars, 47 is also derived from the methylation of benzoic acid.…”

Variation in Floral Scent Compositions of Different Lily Hybrid Groups

“…The intersection LA hybrids are good examples of scent modification by interspecific hybridization, and a few other ornamentals' scent traits have been improved by genetic modification (Zuker et al, 2002;Zvi et al, 2012). However, owing to the heterozygosity of the parents and various genes involved in the production of scent compounds (Andargie et al, 2014;Fu et al, 2007;Kishimoto et al, 2013;Spiller et al, 2010), the modification of fragrance is not easy. In the future, combining conventional breeding with molecular breeding techniques would help develop novel lily cultivars with more pleasant floral fragrances.…”

“…Floral scent is an important trait of ornamental flowers and cut flowers (Chandler and Brugliera, 2011;Kishimoto et al, 2013Kishimoto et al, , 2014. The sensory qualities of ornamental flowers have major impact on consumer preference (Zhang et al, 2014).…”

“…and carnation (Dianthus sp.) have little to no scent compared with wild species (Chandler and Tanaka, 2007;Kishimoto et al, 2013). But the strong fragrance of many lily cultivars is peculiar.…”

Floral fragrances ofHemerocallisL. (daylily) evaluated by headspace solid-phase microextraction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

“…The identification of floral volatiles involved comparison of their mass spectra with a NIST 2011 mass spectral library with a G1711EA MSD ChemStation (Agilent) and by comparing their Kovats retention indices (RI), which were calculated by the use of a series of n-alkane standards (C7-C19) (Accu Standard, New Haven, CT, USA), with related data from the literature (Dormont, Delle-Vedove, Bessière, & Schatz, 2014;Gong, Chen, Liu, Dunn, & Sun, 2014;Jabalpurwala, Smoot, & Rouseff, 2009;Jürgens, Glück, Aas, & Dötterl, 2014;Kishimoto et al, 2013;Kite & Leon, 1995;Pino, Marbot, & Vázquez, 2001;Yeh et al, 2014). Additionally, some authentic reference standards [myrcene and ocimene (TCI, Shanghai, China); linalool (Tokyo Chemical Industry Corporation, Tokyo, Japan)] were used.…”