Can floral volatile organic compounds contribute to the taxonomy of the Rhamnus sect. Alaternus?

By

Llorens, Leonardo
Ferriol, Pere
Tomàs, Joan
García, María Trinidad
Gil, Lorenzo

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2023-12-29

Original Publication

Italian botanist

Volume

16

Pages

149--164

Subjects

Balearic Islands , Hybrids , Rhamnus , taxonomy , VOCs

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft 2016-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/italianbotanist.16.116255

 

Abstract

The chemistry of plants represents a taxonomic and phylogenetic value. Researchers have recently used volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for taxonomic studies. The present work analysed and determined, for the first time, the usefulness of floral volatile compounds in the taxonomy of two species of Rhamnus sect. Alaternus, as well as the hybrid between these taxa. The two species show significant quantitative and qualitative differences. The terpenes linalool, ocimene, caryophyllene, and green volatiles are exclusive to Rh. alaternus, while farnesene (terpene), methyl salicylate and methyl benzoate (benzoids) are obtained from Rh. ludovici-salvatoris. Both volatilomes were attractive to Hymenoptera pollinators; therefore, these pollinators could serve as the main hybridisation vector. In addition, Rh. alaternus shows greater chemical and genetic heterogeneity than Rh. ludovici-salvatoris. Hybrids between the two species, Rh. × bermejoi, are closer in chemical similarity to Rh. alaternus than Rh. ludovici-salvatoris.