ABSTRACT

This chapter reviews the spatial distribution of scent biosynthesis and emission within the flower, and the organization of certain structures that are sometimes associated with localized scent production. The human nose was the most important measure for determining osmophores in floral tissue. A somewhat better, nonbiased indication for the presence of osmophores is based on neutral red staining of floral tissue. Osmophores with characteristic epidermal cells and subjacent glandular cell layers are found in a few, often highly evolved genera. More investigations have demonstrated that all flower organs are not equally employed in scent emission. Volatile production and emission from vegetative tissue is linked to compartments such as glandular trichomes, oil glands, oil ducts, and cavities. Osmophores, epidermis, and different floral organs are the structures that are the sources of fragrance emission. Progress in elucidating the biosynthetic pathways of volatiles has provided further tools for detailed localization of scent synthesis and emission.