ISSN:
1442-1984
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Floral scents emitted from Magnolia, Michelia and Liriodendron taxa native to or cultivated in North America, Mexico and Japan were collected by the headspace method and analyzed using gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Volatile compounds are widespread in the flowers of angiosperms and the chemical property of the scents can be distinguished in taxa. For example, the primary chemical in the scent of Magnolia virginiana growing in Louisiana (U.S.A.) is linalool, whereas in Maryland (U.S.A.) population flowers emit 2-phenylethanol. The flowers of M. grandiflora and M. tamaulipana both emit a number of monoterpenes, mainly geraniol derivatives, but scents of M. pyramidata yield mainly fatty acid esters. Caryophyllene is exclusively emitted by M. sieboldii ssp. japonica, isobutyl acetate by Michelia figo, and 1,2-dimethoxybenzene by M. salicifolia. The flowers of L. tulipifera and L. chinense emit mainly hydrocarbon-terpenoids, the former dominated by limonene, the latter by afarnesene. In some closely related disjunct taxa distributed in North America and eastern Asia the floral scents closely resemble each other, e.g., Magnolia tripetala (North America) and M. hypoleuca (Japan) both strongly emit methyl benzoate. Another set of disjunct taxa, M. acuminata (North America) and M. heptapeta (China) both exclusively emit pentadecane, a hydrocarbon. In some species of Magnolia, volatile compounds present in floral scents are also emitted in damaged leaves. This suggests these chemicals play different roles in various plant organs (deter leaf herbivores, attract parasitoids, attract insects to flowers, etc.).
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-1984.1997.tb00159.x
Permalink
