title: Phenotypic Space and Variation of Floral Scent Profiles during Late Flower Development inAntirrhinum.
abstract: The genusAntirrhinumcomprises about 28 species with a center of origin in the Iberian Peninsula. They show an important diversity of growing niches. We have performed a comprehensive analysis of scent profiles in eight wild species,Antirrhinum linkianum, A. tortuosum, A. cirrigherum, A. latifolium, A. meonanthum, A. braun-blanquetii, A. barrelieri, andA. graniticum. We used also two laboratory inbred linesA. majus, 165E and Sippe50. We identified 63 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) belonging to phenylpropanoids, benzenoids, mono- and sesquiterpenes, nitrogen-containing compounds, and aliphatic alcohols previously described in plants. Twenty-four VOCs were produced at levels higher than 2% of total VOC emission, while other VOCs were emitted in trace amounts. The absolute scent emission varied during flower maturation and species. The lowest emitting wasA. meonanthumwhileA. tortuosumhad the largest emissions. Species were clustered according to their scent profiles and the resulting dendrogram matched the current species phylogeny. However, two accessions,A. majusSippe 50 andA. braun-blanquetii, showed development-specific changes in their VOC composition, suggesting a precise control and fine tuning of scent profiles. Cluster analysis of the different scent components failed to identify a specific synthesis pathway, indicating a key role of scent profiles as blends. There is considerable degree of chemodiversity in scent profiles inAntirrhinum. The specific developmental stage plays an important role in scent quantitative emissions. The relative robustness of the bouquets could be an adaptation to local pollinators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Institute of Biotechnology, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena Cartagena, Spain.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem NC, USA.
authors.forename: Joëlle K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Mühlemann
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Institute of Biotechnology, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena Cartagena, Spain.
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette IN, USA.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dudareva
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Institute of Biotechnology, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena Cartagena, Spain.
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egea-Cortines
keywords: Antirrhinum; anthesis; biodiversity; chemodiversity; floral scent; flower development; phylogeny