The Science of Scent

Can scent reveal whether hidden pollen remains? A comparison of buzz-pollinated Solanum flowers explores whether chemical differences could provide information to visiting insects.

Two enzymes identified in petunia produce a scent compound and connect to salicylic-acid synthesis. Their cellular locations offer further insight into scent and defense metabolism.

A study of a fruity-scented chrysanthemum explores the mechanism linking plant hormone signals to scent-compound synthesis. It also examines the difference between when compounds are produced and when they are released.

Researchers detected 297 volatile compounds in 41 Malagasy orchid species. The study explores how striking scent diversity can coexist with possible evolutionary constraints.

What cues guide bees that collect floral oils? A study of diacetin explores a possible connection between floral resources and bee olfaction.

A comparison of naturally derived diploids and tetraploids with newly created polyploids examines immediate scent changes separately from later evolution.

Comparing scent compounds in a rewardless orchid and surrounding flowers reveals shared constituents and different blend proportions, offering clues to insect attraction.

Bees exposed to heat and dryness were less likely to begin exploring. This study distinguishes antennal responses that detect scent from behavior directed toward it.

Can bees recognize floral scents altered in the atmosphere? A modeling study combines molecular features and earlier behavioral data to predict effects on four crops.