Plants synthesize the thiazole precursor of thiamin (cThz-P) via THIAMIN4 (THI4), a suicide enzyme that mediates one reaction cycle and must then be degraded and resynthesized. It has been estimated that this THI4 turnover consumes 2% to 12% of the maintenance energy budget and that installing an energy-efficient alternative pathway could substantially increase crop yield potential. Available data point to two natural alternatives to the suicidal THI4 pathway: (i) nonsuicidal prokaryotic THI4s that lack the active-site Cys residue on which suicide activity depends, and (ii) an uncharacterized thiazole synthesis pathway in flowers of the tropical arum lily Caladium bicolor that enables production and emission of large amounts of the cThz-P analog 4-methyl-5-vinylthiazole (MVT). We used functional complementation of an Escherichia coli ΔthiG strain to identify a nonsuicidal bacterial THI4 (from Thermovibrio ammonificans) that can function in conditions like those in plant cells. We explored whether C. bicolor synthesizes MVT de novo via a novel route, via a suicidal or a nonsuicidal THI4, or by catabolizing thiamin. Analysis of developmental changes in MVT emission, extractable MVT, thiamin level, and THI4 expression indicated that C. bicolor flowers make MVT de novo via a massively expressed THI4 and that thiamin is not involved. Functional complementation tests indicated that C. bicolor THI4, which has the active-site Cys needed to operate suicidally, may be capable of suicidal and-in hypoxic conditions-nonsuicidal operation. T. ammonificans and C. bicolor THI4s are thus candidate parts for rational redesign or directed evolution of efficient, nonsuicidal THI4s for use in crop improvement.

For the past century, daylily (Hemerocallis) hybridization focused almost exclusively on enhancing the diversity of flower forms, colors, and color patterns. This focus on the visual characteristics of daylilies resulted in the development of thousands of hybrids that come in a fantastic array of colors and color patterns. However, these modern daylilies exhibit little to none of the floral fragrance possessed by some of the daylily progenitor species. Because little work has been done on daylily floral volatiles, the objective of this research was to evaluate the floral volatile profiles of a variety of daylily species and hybrids and assess the state of fragrance among modern hybrids. Using a field collection system and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GS-MS), this study evaluated the fragrance profiles of 147 daylily genotypes. Eighteen volatile organic compounds, primarily terpenoids, were identified and their variations among the genotypes were investigated. Results suggest that fragrance could be a trait pursued in a breeding program to enhance the sensory phenotypes of new daylily cultivars.