Oral Paper

         Phytochemical

Chemical, genetic, and morphological characterization of the floral scent and scent releasing structures of Gynandropsis gynandra (Cleomaceae, Brassicales)

Presenting Author
Brandi Zenchyzen
Description
Approximately 85% of flowering plants are pollinated by animals. As such, most flowering plants exhibit an array of features that act synergistically as signals for pollinator attraction. In conjunction with visual displays, flowers present limitless possibilities of fragrance blends consisting of different volatile compounds and ratios of components, which can be learned and recognized by pollinators. Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq. (Cleomaceae, Brassicales) is an underutilized leafy vegetable native to Africa and Asia. With its extensive geographical distribution, G. gynandra exhibits intra- and inter-continental variation in morphology, phenology, and phytochemistry. In addition to the variation of the plants themselves, the reported insect visitors of G. gynandra differ between continents. These differences suggest the possibility of distinct, geographically separated G. gynandra morphs, which could be further supported with floral fragrance profiles. Therefore, we characterized the floral scent blends of African and Asian G. gynandra accessions to compare volatile compound composition between geographical regions and to pollination syndromes. As G. gynandra is an important vegetable in some African countries and food security is a global concern, understanding the morphology and genetics of the floral features associated with pollinator interactions is vital for ensuring its reproductive success. Hence, we also described floral cell morphology and explored gene expression across floral organs for the African accession to identify possible scent releasing structures and integrate emitted floral scent compounds with volatile biosynthetic pathway expression profiles.