Floral Scents and Fruit Aromas: Functions, Compositions, Biosynthesis, and Regulation

Abstract

Floral scents and fruit aromas are crucial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in plants. They are used in defense mechanisms, along with mechanisms to attract pollinators and seed dispersers. In addition, they are economically important for the quality of crops, as well as quality in the perfume, cosmetics, food, drink, and pharmaceutical industries. Floral scents and fruit aromas share many volatile organic compounds in flowers and fruits. Volatile compounds are classified as terpenoids, phenylpropanoids/benzenoids, fatty acid derivatives, and amino acid derivatives. Many genes and transcription factors regulating the synthesis of volatiles have been discovered. In this review, we summarize recent progress in volatile function, composition, biosynthetic pathway, and metabolism regulation. We also discuss unresolved issues and research perspectives, providing insight into improvements and applications of plant VOCs.

Biochemical, Sensory, and Molecular Evaluation of Flavour and Consumer Acceptability in Australian Papaya (Carica papaya L.) Varieties

“…), and Tulip ( Tulipa spp.) [ 28 , 29 , 30 ], but to the best of our knowledge, these two volatiles have not been assigned in papaya fruit. The results from the GCMS analysis indicated that yellow-fleshed variety ‘1B’ had significantly higher concentrations of linalool oxide and terpinolene than the red-fleshed variety ‘Skybury’.…”

“…Terpinolene is known for its pleasant sweet-pine, citrus aroma, which is considered the major VOC responsible for the characteristic flavour of mango cultivars [ 31 , 32 ]. Linalool oxide has a fresh floral citrus scent and is identified in most tropical fruits [ 28 , 32 , 33 ]. Due to the low odour threshold of these two VOCs, they play key roles in ‘citrus’, ‘sweet’, and ‘floral’ aromas characteristic of papaya [ 33 ].…”

Integrated volatile metabolomic and transcriptomic analysis provides insights into the regulation of floral scents between two contrasting varieties of Lonicera japonica

“…In plants, floral scents play vital roles in attracting pollinators, deterring pathogens and parasites, and serving as signals in response to biotic and abiotic stresses ( Schiestl, 2015 ). In addition, floral scents are important commercial traits of ornamental plants and are also economically important for quality in the food, drink, perfume, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries ( Mostafa et al, 2022 ). Floral scents consist of a mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are lipophilic and are characterized by low molecular weights and high melting points.…”

“…Over the past decade, a large number of studies on floral VOCs have improved our understanding of their functions, biosynthesis, and regulation. Currently, the research on floral scents is mainly focused on common ornamental plants, such as rose, orchid, and tulip ( Mostafa et al, 2022 ). However, the constituents and abundances of the VOCs in floral scents vary widely among plants.…”

Plant Responses to Herbivory, Wounding, and Infection

“…VOCs are emitted by plants in response to mechanical damage or herbivore feeding [75,76]. Long-distance signaling by plants through the release of VOCs elicits systemic immunity against herbivore attacks [65,75].…”