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Molecular Breeding

, Volume 9, Issue 2, pp 103–111 | Cite as

Linalool and linalool oxide production in transgenic carnation flowers expressing the Clarkia breweri linalool synthase gene

  • Michal Lavy
  • Amir Zuker
  • Efraim Lewinsohn
  • Olga Larkov
  • Uzi Ravid
  • Alexander Vainstein
  • David Weiss
Article

Abstract

Most modern cut-flower cultivars, including those of carnation(Dianthus caryophyllus), lack distinct fragrance.Carnationcv. Eilat flowers produce and emit various fragrance compounds, includingbenzoic acid derivatives and sesquiterpenes, but not monoterpenes. Based onGC-MS analysis, benzoic acid, benzyl benzoate, phenylethyl benzoate, methylbenzoate, cis-3-hexenyl benzoate and β-caryophylleneare the major fragrance compounds, representing ca. 60% of the total volatilesgenerated by these flowers. The level of these compounds increases dramaticallyduring petal development. To evaluate the possibility of producing monoterpenesin carnation cv. Eilat, we generated transgenic plants expressing the linaloolsynthase gene from Clarkia breweri under the regulation ofthe CaMV 35S constitutive promoter. The product of this gene catalyzes theproduction of the monoterpene linalool from geranyl diphosphate. HeadspaceGC-MSanalysis revealed that leaves and flowers of transgenic, but not controlplants,emit linalool and its derivatives, cis- andtrans-linalool oxide. GC-MS analysis of petal extractrevealed the accumulation of trans-linalool oxide but notlinalool. The emission of linalool by the transgenic flowers did not lead todetectable changes in flower scent for human olfaction.

Dianthus caryophyllus Fragrance Linalool synthase Monoterpenes Transgenic carnation 
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Copyright information

© Kluwer Academic Publishers 2002

Authors and Affiliations

  • Michal Lavy
    • 1
  • Amir Zuker
    • 1
  • Efraim Lewinsohn
    • 2
  • Olga Larkov
    • 2
  • Uzi Ravid
    • 2
  • Alexander Vainstein
    • 1
  • David Weiss
    • 1
  1. 1.The Institute of Plant Sciences and Genetics in Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Quality SciencesThe Hebrew University of JerusalemRehovotIsrael
  2. 2.Division of Aromatic PlantsARO, Newe Ya'arRamat YishayIsrael

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