Petals of 11 rose cultivars were analyzed by solvent extraction for the presence of key scent volatiles. Two different cultivars--'Fragrant Cloud', a very fragrant cultivar, and 'Golden Gate', a non-fragrant cultivar--were further analyzed by the headspace technique during flower opening. The 'Fragrant Cloud' headspace is composed of a variety of volatiles, including monoterpene alcohols, acetates, and terpene hydrocarbons, while the 'Golden Gate' headspace is composed mainly of orcinol dimethylether, a compound that is scentless to the human nose but that is perceived by honeybees, as judged by proboscis extension experiments. In both cultivars, the level of volatiles increased during flower development, while the ratio of different major volatiles remained constant.
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Shalit et al. (2004) studied this question.
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