Analysis of the floral fragrance of Platanthera stricta

• Published in: Phytochemistry (Oxford) Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 91 - 95
• Main Authors: Patt, Joseph M., Rhoades, David F., Corkill, Jeffrey A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 1988; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analysis of complex biological substances; Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; aromatic alcohols and aldehydes; aromatic compounds; Biological and medical sciences; chemical constituents of plants; floral fragrance; flowers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GC/MS; lilac alcohols; lilac aldehydes; monoterpenes; odors; Orchidaceae; Plants and fungi; Platanthera; Platanthera stricta; trapping; α-pinene; lilac aldehydes; Orchidaceae; lilac alcohols; floral fragrance; α-pinene; trapping; GC; aromatic alcohols and aldehydes; Platanthera stricta; GC/MS; monoterpenes; Volatile compound; Monocotyledones; Flower; Terpene; Vegetals; Perfume; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Chemical composition; Aromatic compound
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/0031-9422(88)80596-X

The qualitative and quantitative composition of the floral fragrance of Platanthera stricta was determined by trapping fragrance components on charcoal or Tenax adsorbents in the field. Analysis (GC-MS) showed the fragrance to consist largely of lilac aldehydes, lilac alcohols and other monoterpene alcohols, monoterpene hydrocarbons (of which α-pinene is the predominant constituent), and aromatic aldehydes and alcohols. Rates of emission of fragrance among mature inflorescences varied greatly ( ca 50—0 μg/hr/inflorescence). Neither charcoal nor Tenax alone effectively trapped the full range of floral fragrance compounds. When Tenax was used as the trapping agent, lilac aldehydes, lilac alcohols, aromatic aldehydes, aromatic alcohols, and some of the monoterpenes were recovered, but α-pinene, a major component of the fragrance, was recovered only in trace amounts. By contrast, α-pinene and lilac alcohols were effectively recovered from charcoal, but aromatic aldehydes and alcohols were poorly recovered, and lilac aldehydes decomposed.