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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414370
Research Project: Mitigation of Invasive Pest Threats to U.S. Subtropical Agriculture

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: Floral volatile composition of Peltophorum pterocarpum flowers

Author
item TABANCA, LARA - Florida International University
item Schnell, Elena
item Nageswara-Rao, Madhugiri - Rao
item Tabanca, Nurhayat
item Singh, Sukhwinder

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2024
Publication Date: 4/5/2024
Citation: Tabanca, L., Schnell, E.Q., Nageswara Rao, M., Tabanca, N., Singh, S. 2024. Floral volatile composition of Peltophorum pterocarpum flowers. Abstract. Agroecology Symposium, Florida International University, Miami, Florida. April 5, 2024.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract Only.

Technical Abstract: The Leguminosae (Fabaceae family) is home to essential flowering plants commonly used in agriculture. Many leguminous plants can fix nitrogen using root nodules and offer high-quality protein for humans and domestic animals. One plant in this family is Peltophorum pterocarpum (DC.) K. Heyne, which is also known as the yellow poinciana. It is a famous ornamental tree grown in tropical regions worldwide, including southeast Asia, northern Australia, Florida, and Hawaii in the United States. This tree has a beautiful round canopy that produces abundant bright yellow flowers. The yellow poinciana wood is commonly used in furniture-making, while the colorful and showy flowers are used for ornamental purposes. These flowers are also a great nectar source for Hymenoptera insects, pollinating bees, and parasitoid wasps. Pollinators often use floral volatiles, complex and multifunctional signals that manipulate insect behavior using chemical cues.This study aims to investigate the volatile components emitted by the yellow poinciana flowers. Two chemical techniques were compared: dynamic headspace sampling and water distillation for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) from P. pterocarpum flowers. The researchers found several chemical constituents were isolated by headspace sampling but not by water distillation. Water distillation processed a higher content of oxygenated sesquiterpenoids and heavier chemical compounds such as diterpene and long-chain hydrocarbons, while dynamic headspace sampling isolated low molecular weight terpenoids and other compounds. This study presents the functions of floral volatiles, their properties in pollination biology, and their role in pest management issues.