Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Chemistry Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #356181
Research Project: Insect, Nematode, and Plant Semiochemical Communication Systems

Location: Chemistry Research

Title: Rapid collection of floral fragrance volatiles using a headspace volatile collection technique for GC-MS thermal desorption sample analysis

Author
item RAY, HALEIGH - University Of Florida
item Stuhl, Charles
item GILLETT-KAUFMAN, JENNIFER - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Journal of Visualized Experiments
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/21/2018
Publication Date: 12/10/2019
Citation: Ray, H., Stuhl, C.J., Gillett-Kaufman, J. 2019. Rapid collection of floral fragrance volatiles using a headspace volatile collection technique for GC-MS thermal desorption sample analysis. Journal of Visualized Experiments. (154). https://doi.org/10.3791/58928.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3791/58928

Interpretive Summary: All plants release odors that are important for their communication with the environment. The use of certain techniques for the collection of plant odors, combined with instrumental analyses have allowed a better understanding of the individual chemical compounds that make up plant odors and floral fragrances. Floral fragrance is critical for attracting pollinators. USDA-ARS scientists from the Center of Medical, Agricultural, Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, FL present a protocol for collecting floral fragrance volatiles, which are then analyzed via chemical instrumentation. This method allows for the sampling of floral volatiles using a non-destructive method with equipment that is easily transported. This procedure uses a rapid sampling technique, cutting previous sampling times from 2-3 hours to approximately 10 minutes. Fragrance compounds are easily collected and transported for laboratory analysis. The procedure for collecting and analyzing fragrance and control data are presented, from material setup to understanding the output data. This research is important to increase knowledge of the compounds that make up floral fragrance, which is an important step in the conservation of plants that are threatened or endangered. Additionally, this information can be used to better understand the pollinators and enhance pollination to preserve endangered plant species.

Technical Abstract: Fragrances of many flower families have been sampled and the volatiles analyzed. Knowledge of the compounds that make up the fragrances can be an important step to conservation of plants that are threatened or endangered. Because floral fragrance is critical for attracting pollinators, this method could be used to better understand or even enhance pollination. We present a protocol using a portable charcoal air filter and vacuum to collect floral fragrance volatiles, which are analyzed by a GC-MS. This method allows for the sampling of floral volatiles using a non-destructive method with equipment that is easily transported. This procedure uses a rapid sampling procedure, cutting previous sampling times from 2-3 hours to approximately 10 minutes. Using GC-MS, we can analyze the fragrance compounds and identify each individually, based on authentic standards. The steps used for collecting and analyzing fragrance and control data are presented, from material setup to understanding the output data.