Dynamics of fragrant compounds from Prunus mume flowers.

The floral fragrance emitted at five stages of flower development and from different flower parts of Prunus mume ‘Sanlun Yudie’ were investigated using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-three volatile compounds were identified, of which three, i.e. benzyl acetate, eugenol and n-hexyl acetate were the major components for floral fragrance of P. mume ‘Sanlun Yudie’. Four emission trends of these volatile compounds were observed at five flowering stages. Emission of benzyl acetate was low-high-low, while that of benzal dehyde showed a high-low-high pattern. Concentrations of four monoterpenes, i.e.α-pinene, camphene, limonene and camphor, showed a high-low trend and that of eugenol was low-high. The complex biosynthesis of fragrant compounds from mei flowers resulted in a wide diversity of volatile chemicals with various levels of concentrations. Twenty-seven volatile compounds from excising floral parts, i.e. petals, stamens and sepals+nectar+gynoecium, were identified. Petals mainly produced fatty acid derivatives and aromatic compounds, while pollen emitted aromatic compounds. Sepals+nectar+gynoecium released more volatile compounds than those from petals and pollen. Monoterpenes were only found in sepals+nectar+gynoecium. Emission of low concentrations of eugenol and high concentrations of n-hexyl acetate at fully opened flowers provides signals to nectar-feeding honeybees.