Rhythms of fragrance emission in flowers

Matile, Philippe; Altenburger, Rolf

doi:10.1007/bf00394777

Cited by 126 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…At the same time, the floral scent evolution must fit into plant life histories in ways that minimize potential metabolic and ecological costs involved in the scent production (e.g., Gershenzon 1994;Raguso 2008;Wright and Schiestl 2009). Therefore, floral scent emission is expected to peak in association with the peak activity periods of their pollinators (Hoballah et al 2005;Matile and Altenburger 1988;Raguso et al 2003). In Lithophragma, which often depend nearly exclusively on the day-flying Greya moths, scent production was markedly higher in the daytime samples than in the nighttime collections.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floral Scent Contributes to Interaction Specificity in Coevolving Plants and Their Insect Pollinators

et al. 2014

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Chemical defenses, repellents, and attractants are important shapers of species interactions. Chemical attractants could contribute to the divergence of coevolving plant-insect interactions, if pollinators are especially responsive to signals from the local plant species. We experimentally investigated patterns of daily floral scent production in three Lithophragma species (Saxifragaceae) that are geographically isolated and tested how scent divergence affects attraction of their major pollinator-the floral parasitic moth Greya politella (Prodoxidae). These moths oviposit through the corolla while simultaneously pollinating the flower with pollen adhering to the abdomen. The complex and species-specific floral scent profiles were emitted in higher amounts during the day, when these day-flying moths are active. There was minimal divergence found in petal color, which is another potential floral attractant. Female moths responded most strongly to scent from their local host species in olfactometer bioassays, and were more likely to oviposit in, and thereby pollinate, their local host species in no-choice trials. The results suggest that floral scent is an important attractant in this interaction. Local specialization in the pollinator response to a highly specific plant chemistry, thus, has the potential to contribute importantly to patterns of interaction specificity among coevolving plants and highly specialized pollinators.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floral Scent Contributes to Interaction Specificity in Coevolving Plants and Their Insect Pollinators

et al. 2014

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“…It is possible that temporary, but substantial, increases or decreases in emission were missed because of their short duration, but headspace collections made at 6-h intervals also failed to detect such changes, and samples did not vary by more than a factor of 1.5 (data not shown). Daily cycling in emission of linalool and other floral scent components, with a nocturnal peak in intensity coinciding with periods of moth activity, is a feature of many moth-pollinated flowers, such as Cestrum noctumum (Solanaceae) (Overland, 1960;Matile and Altenburger, 1988). However, in other moth-pollinated flowers, such as Nicotiana sylvestris (Solanaceae), rates of linalool emission do not differ appreciably between night and day (Loughrin et al, 1990(Loughrin et al, , 1991.…”

Section: Discussion Temporal Variation In Scent Production By Whole Fmentioning

confidence: 99%

Floral Scent Production in Clarkia (Onagraceae) (I. Localization and Developmental Modulation of Monoterpene Emission and Linalool Synthase Activity)

et al. 1994

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The flowers of many plants emit volatile compounds as a means of attracting pollinators. We have previously shown that the strong, sweet fragrance of CIarkia breweri (Onagraceae), an annual plant native to California, consists of approximately 8 to 12 volatile compounds-three monoterpenes and nine benzoate derivatives (R.A. Raguso and E. Pichersky [1994] Plant Syst Evol [in press]). Here we report that the monoterpene alcohol linalool is synthesized and emitted mostly by petals but to a lesser extent also by the pistil and stamens. Two linalool oxides are produced and emitted almost exclusively by the pistil. These three monoterpenes are first discernible in mature unopened buds, and their tissue levels are highest during the first 2 to 3 d after anthesis. levels of emission by the different floral parts throughout the life span of the flower were correlated with levels of these monoterpenes in the respective tissues, suggesting that these monoterpenes are emitted soon after their synthesis. Activity of linalool synthase, an enzyme that converts the ubiquitous CIO isoprenoid intermediate geranyl pyrophosphate to linalool, was highest in petals, the organ that emits most of the linalool. However, linalool synthase activity on a fresh weight basis was highest in stigma and style (i.e. the pistil). Most of the linalool produced in the pistil is apparently converted into linalool oxides. lower levels (0.1%) of monoterpene emission and linalool synthase activity are found in the stigma of Clarkia concha, a nonscented relative of C. breweri, suggesting that monoterpenes may have other functions in the flower in addition to attracting pollinators. ~ Flowers of many plants attract pollinators by producing and emitting volatile compounds. The scent emitted by such flowers is often a complex mixture of low mol wt compounds, and the relative abundances and interactions of the constituents give the flower its particular characteristic fragrance. Floral scents have been demonstrated to function as longand short-distance attractants and nectar guides to a variety '

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“…Although many plants emit volatile compounds continuously and at a constant level during flowering, other flowering plants emit scent in a rhythmic manner with a diurnal or nocturnal maximum (Matile and Altenburger, 1988;Loughrin et al, 1990;Nielsen et al, 1995;Helsper et al, 1998). The rhythmic release of volatiles from some flowers is often correlated with the corresponding temporal activity of their known pollinators (Loughrin et al, 1990;Schiestl et al, 1997).…”

Section: Temporal and Rhythmic Variations In Methyl Benzoate Emissionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Developmental Regulation of Methyl Benzoate Biosynthesis and Emission in Snapdragon Flowers

et al. 2000

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In snapdragon flowers, the volatile ester methyl benzoate is the most abundant scent compound. It is synthesized by and emitted from only the upper and lower lobes of petals, where pollinators (bumblebees) come in contact with the flower. Emission of methyl benzoate occurs in a rhythmic manner, with maximum emission during the day, which correlates with pollinator activity. A novel S -adenosyl-L -methionine:benzoic acid carboxyl methyl transferase (BAMT), the final enzyme in the biosynthesis of methyl benzoate, and its corresponding cDNA have been isolated and characterized. The complete amino acid sequence of the BAMT protein has only low levels of sequence similarity to other previously characterized proteins, including plant O -methyl transferases. During the life span of the flower, the levels of methyl benzoate emission, BAMT activity, BAMT gene expression, and the amounts of BAMT protein and benzoic acid are developmentally and differentially regulated. Linear regression analysis revealed that production of methyl benzoate is regulated by the amount of benzoic acid and the amount of BAMT protein, which in turn is regulated at the transcriptional level.

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Rhythms of fragrance emission in flowers

Cited by 126 publications

References 7 publications

Floral Scent Contributes to Interaction Specificity in Coevolving Plants and Their Insect Pollinators

Floral Scent Contributes to Interaction Specificity in Coevolving Plants and Their Insect Pollinators

Floral Scent Production in Clarkia (Onagraceae) (I. Localization and Developmental Modulation of Monoterpene Emission and Linalool Synthase Activity)

Developmental Regulation of Methyl Benzoate Biosynthesis and Emission in Snapdragon Flowers

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