Characteristics of Floral Scent Compounds in a New Fragrant Petunia Cultivar TX-794 ‘Evening Scentsation’

Abstract

A new blue petunia cultivar, TX-794 bred by Takii & Co., Ltd, has a sweet floral fragrance different from conventional petunia cultivars that typically have no odor or have a somewhat unfavorable smell. Since fragrant bedding plants suitable for summer cultivation are rare, we expect that the fragrance will enhance the value of TX-794. The characteristics of emitted scent compounds from TX-794 were evaluated in this study. The major scent compound was phenylacetaldehyde, a C6-C2 aromatic compound that was emitted at higher levels in TX-794 compared to conventional petunia cultivars. iso-Eugenol, a C6-C3 aromatic compound, is the major scent compound in conventional petunia cultivars. These results suggest that TX-794 has a high capacity to biosynthesize C6-C2 aromatic compounds, resulting in a significantly different scent compound composition compared to conventional petunia cultivars. Time-course analysis of scent compound emission revealed that the largest release of scent compounds by TX-794 occurs during the switch from light periods to dark periods. Soon after flowering, that is, in the light period on the day of anthesis, the major scent compound was p-cresol. Thereafter, the primary scent compound was phenylacetaldehyde or methyl benzoate with 2-phenylethanol occupying the next position. Since a bed or a container of petunias has flowers that are primarily over 2-days old, the basic fragrance of TX-794 plants is derived from phenylacetaldehyde, which has a hyacinth-like scent, 2-phenylethanol, which has a rose-like scent, and methyl benzoate, which has a dry fruitlike scent.

Volatile composition and classification of Lilium flower aroma types and identification, polymorphisms, and alternative splicing of their monoterpene synthase genes

“…In most cases, floral scents are mixtures of many compounds, but there are always major compounds that contribute most significantly to typical scents. Benzyl acetate is the characteristic floral scent compound in Prunus mume 20 , phenylacetaldehyde in petunia “TX-794” 21 , benzenoids in carnation 22 , and monoterpenes in Lilium “Siberia” 23 . Monoterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of two isoprene units synthesized mainly through the 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway in the plastid 24 .…”

Introduction of Floral Scent Traits into Asiatic Hybrid Lilies (Unscented) by Crossbreeding with <i>Lilium cernuum</i> (Scented)

“…The volatiles captured by the twisters were analyzed using a GC-MS (Agilent 5975C; Agilent Technologies, Wilmington, DE, USA) coupled to a thermal desorption system 3 (TDS3; Gerstel Inc., Oyama-Okubo et al, 2018). The thermal desorption conditions were as follows: heating from 30°C to 220°C at 60°C•min −1 , holding at 220°C for 10 min, and cryofocusing at −50°C using a Cold Injection System 4 (CIS4; Gerstel Inc.).…”

Volatile Composition and Classification of Paeonia lactiflora Flower Aroma Types and Identification of the Fragrance-Related Genes

“…In the vast majority of cases, flower fragrance is a mixture of many compounds, but there are always some main compounds that contribute most significantly to typical scents. Monoterpenes are the characteristic aromatic compounds in Lilium 'Siberia' [29], benzyl acetate in Prunus mume [30], benzenoids in carnation [31], and PALd in petunia 'TX-794' [32]. Odor intensity varies greatly.…”