Chemistry, biosynthesis and biology of floral volatiles: roles in pollination and other functions

Abstract

Major advances have recently been made in understanding the biosynthesis and emission of floral volatiles, how their emission is shaped by abiotic and biotic factors, and which volatiles are involved in communicating with mutualists and parasites.

To be or not to be fragrant: floral scent of some bat‐pollinated cacti

“…2000; Pettersson et al . 2004; Dötterl & Gershenzon 2023), chemical ecology studies on the floral odour of cacti show that these compounds were only previously found in species of Espostoa , Pachycereus and Pilosocereus (Kaiser & Tollsten 1995; Gonzalez‐Terrazas et al . 2016), and now for Stephanocereus .…”

“…In the latter, the sesquiterpene cyperene, an unusual compound found in low proportions in chiropterophilous species (Pettersson et al 2004), was also detected. Although it is known that sulphur compounds are of great importance in the composition of the floral bouquet of bat-pollinated species (Kaiser & Tollsten 1995;Knudsen & Tollsten 1995;Bestmann et al 1997;von Helversen et al 2000;Pettersson et al 2004;D€ otterl & Gershenzon 2023), chemical ecology studies on the floral odour of cacti show that these compounds were only previously found in species of Espostoa, Pachycereus and Pilosocereus (Kaiser & Tollsten 1995;Gonzalez-Terrazas et al 2016), and now for Stephanocereus.…”