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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Invasive Insect Biocontrol & Behavior Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #303962
Title: Volatiles emitted from single flower buds of the lilium longiflorum × L. callosum interspecific hybrid and its parents

Author
item KIM, JI HEE - Dankook University
item ROH, MARK - Dankook University
item Dickens, Joseph
item LEE, AE KYUNG - Dankook University
item SUH, JEUNG KEUN - Dankook University

Submitted to: Journal of Horticulture, Environment and Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/3/2014
Publication Date: 8/1/2014
Citation: Kim, J., Roh, M.S., Dickens, J.C., Lee, A., Suh, J. 2014. Volatiles emitted from single flower buds of the lilium longiflorum × L. callosum interspecific hybrid and its parents. Journal of Horticulture, Environment and Biotechnology. 55(5):410-414.

Interpretive Summary: Marketability of flowering plants depends not only on their appearance but also their fragrance and agronomic properties. Varieties of lillies can be crossed to produce hybrids with favorable characteristics. Here we characterize chemicals emitted by two varieties of lilies and their hybrid. We show that the hybrid produced chemicals similar to a parent variety but at reduced levels. Emission of chemicals by the flowers peaked during the dark period. These results show that both the pattern of chemicals and the periodicity of their emission are inherited traits in lilies and perhaps other flowering plants. This information may be used by plant breeders to produce lilies with favorable fragrances and enhanced marketability.

Technical Abstract: This research was initiated to analyze the volatiles emitted from a single flower bud of Lilium longiflorum Thunb., L. callosum Sieb. et Zucc., and interspecific hybrids of L. longiflorum × L. callosum (L. longi × L. cal IH). Volatiles, collected automatically every 6-hour intervals at 20oC before anthesis and at anthesis, were analyzed using coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The most abundant volatiles in L. longiflorum occurred at retention time (rt) 12.17 min (peak 7) and rt 6.87 min (peak 3). These compounds were tentatively identified as 1,6,10-dodecatrien-3-ol (nerolidol) and 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,7-octariene, (ocimene), respectively, and sensory evaluation assessed the blend to have a pleasant fragrance. However, these peaks were not observed in L. callosum which produced a relatively low level of volatiles at rt 5.36 min, rt 5.84 min, and rt 12.31 min. Emission of volatiles from a single flower bud showed a diurnal rhythm peaking between 2000 and 0200 hr and also at anthesis. The level of volatiles released from L. longi × L. cal IH flowers was less than that from L. longiflorum, and no odor was evident by sensory evaluation. Mild and pleasant fragrance of L. longi × L. cal IH results from the inheritance of volatiles such as ocimene and nerolidol from L. longiflorum at a reduced level and the lack of production of volatiles that could produce odors.