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(American Journal of Botany. 2005;92:2-12.)
© 2005 Botanical Society of America, Inc.

Anatomy and Morphology

Volatile composition, emission pattern, and localization of floral scent emission in Mirabilis jalapa (Nyctaginaceae)1

Uta Effmert2,6, Jana Große2, Ursula S. R. Röse3, Fred Ehrig4, Ralf Kägi5 and Birgit Piechulla2

2University of Rostock, Department of Life Science, Biochemistry, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18059 Rostock, Germany; 3Max Planck Institute of Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Str. 8, 07745 Jena, Germany; 4Federal Center of Breeding Research of Cultivated Plants, Institute of Resistance Research and Pathogen Diagnostics, Theodor-Roemer-Weg 4, 06449 Aschersleben, Germany; 5Eidgenössische Meß- und Prüfanstalt (EMPA), Überlandstrasse 129, CH-8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland

We elucidated scent components, daily emission patterns, and the localization of floral scent release of Mirabilis jalapa. Volatiles emitted by the whole plant as well as by detached flowers were investigated using dynamic headspace analysis and gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry. Among several constituents including (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, ß-myrcene, (Z)-ocimene, and benzyl benzoate, the monoterpene (E)-ß-ocimene was the major fragrance component. Fragrance release occurred in a time-dependent manner. The emission of volatiles, including (E)-ß-ocimene, showed an evening-specific maximum (1700–2000 pm). The emission of (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate reached its maximum 3 h later. Histological (neutral red staining) and morphological studies (electron and light microscopy) of the flower surface and tissues of M. jalapa revealed differences in surface structures and tissue characteristics. The flower could be divided into four main sections, including the tube, the transition zone between tube and limb, a star-shaped center of the limb, and petaloid lobes of the limb. These petaloid lobes are the site of (E)-ß-ocimene release. Stomata and trichomes found on the abaxial flower surface were not directly involved in fragrance release. Clear indications of osmophores involved in scent release could not be found. Thus, the results indicate that floral volatiles probably are released by diffuse emission in M. jalapa.

Key Words: floral histology • (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate • Mirabilis jalapa • Nyctaginaceae • (E)-ß-ocimene • petal morphology • rhythmic emission • scent emission




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