Fragrance chemistry and pollinator affinities in Nyctaginaceae.
We present results of dynamic head-space collections and GC-MS analyses of floral and vegetative fragrances for 20 species in three genera of Nyctaginaceae: Acleisanthes, Mirabilis and Selinocarpus. Most of the species included in this study are either hawkmoth or noctuid moth-pollinated. A wide variety of compounds were observed, including mono- and sesquiterpenoids, aromatics (both benzenoids and phenylpropanoids), aliphatic compounds, lactones, and nitrogen-bearing compounds. Intraspecific variation in fragrance profiles was significantly lower than interspecific variation. Each species had a unique blend of volatiles, and the fragrance of many species contained species-specific compounds. The fragrance profiles presented here are generally consistent with previous studies of fragrance in a variety of moth-pollinated angiosperms.
Levin
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Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson AZ 85721, USA. rlevin@lms.si.edu
Raguso
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McDade
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D000818:Animals; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D009036:Moths / Q000502:physiology*; D009812:Odorants; D011058:Pollen; D013045:Species Specificity