Floral Scent Evaluation of Three Cut Flowers Through Sensorial and Gas Chromatography Analysis

Danilo Aros,Marcela Medel,Cristina Úbeda,Nicole Garrido,Carsten Müller,Constanza Rivas,Hilary Rogers

doi:10.3390/agronomy10010131

Abstract

The main function of floral scent is to attract and guide pollinators, but it is also an important character in the ornamental plant industry. Several studies have considered the chemical evaluation of floral scent during vase life, but only a few have considered sensorial analysis of this character, which is a very important quality trait for the marketing of ornamental plants. This study focused on assessing the floral scent of three fragrant cut flowers of high economic importance: Lilium, chrysanthemum, and freesia. Eighty individuals were included in a sensorial analysis where the attributes of floral scent liking and intensity were evaluated. The composition of the floral scent was analyzed through the collection of headspace followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The floral scents of oriental lily and freesia were perceived as more intense, compared to chrysanthemum. A total of 28 volatile compounds were detected and the monoterpenes β-pinene (40.7 ± 1.8 μg·L−1), β-cis-ocimene (5552 ± 990 μg·L−1), and linalool (11,800 ± 220 μg·L−1) were the major volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in chrysanthemum, lilium, and freesia, respectively. The results presented in this study confirm that the concentration and abundance of volatile compounds is not directly related to the human perception of floral scent.

Highlights

Floral scent plays a crucial role in the pollination syndrome since its main function is to attract and guide pollinators [1,2]
The determination of the composition of floral scent is normally performed through the collection of headspace followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis through which different volatile compounds are separated and identified
The results presented in this study confirmed that the concentration and abundancy of volatile compounds is not directly related to the human perception of floral scent, as many other factors, some of them still unrevealed, are involved during the interaction between chemical compounds and odor receptors

Summary

Introduction

Floral scent plays a crucial role in the pollination syndrome since its main function is to attract and guide pollinators [1,2]. Floral scent is important in the marketing of ornamental plants and has been described as one of the most important characteristics during the vase life of cut flowers for consumers [3]. The determination of the composition of floral scent is normally performed through the collection of headspace followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis through which different volatile compounds are separated and identified. By this method, floral scent has been described as a complex mixture of small (100–250 D) volatile organic compounds.

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