Floral volatiles

Article By:

Raguso, Robert A. Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

Last reviewed:2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.YB110030

With over 250,000 described species of angiosperms, the flowering plants represent one of the most exuberant expressions of biological diversity on Earth. The explosive diversification of flowering plants is commonly attributed to coevolutionary relationships with animal pollinators, mediated through floral form, color, pattern, and fragrance. Many flowers are scented, and their odors vary markedly in their strength, complexity, and chemical composition. Furthermore, floral odors may vary spatially, at the scale of individual flower parts [for example, pollen and corolla (petal) odors typically differ], and temporally, with some fragrances showing pronounced diurnal or nocturnal rhythms as well as qualitative changes after pollination. Despite the predominance of insects as floral visitors and the acknowledged importance of chemistry to their foraging behavior, we are just beginning to appreciate the many ways in which floral volatiles can affect plant reproductive success. Improved analytical techniques, combined with a growing awareness of the general relevance of floral scent to pollinator function in agricultural as well as natural settings, promise to deepen our understanding of how fragrances contribute to floral function.

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