Abstract

GRAJALES-CONESA, Julieta; MELENDEZ-RAMIREZ, Virginia  and  CRUZ-LOPEZ, Leopoldo. Floral scents and their interaction with insect pollinators. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2011, vol.82, n.4, pp.1356-1367. ISSN 2007-8706.

Plants use visual and olfactory cues to attract pollinators and to allow them to detect the presence of flowers, which most of them are insects. Some plants have evolved with their pollinators, based on the olfactory messages, which make them unique for their specific pollinators. These mechanisms have evolved in certain plants in relation to their pollinators, and there are also inter and intra-specific variation in fragrance cues which show specific chemical profile for each plant species, so insects attracted are specific to them. Most of the floral scents are organic compounds identified with techniques and methodologies which become more specific and efficient along the time. The application of floral scent could be used as a tool in pollination and pest management. In these studies, insect interaction with floral scent is reviewed and specificity of plant-pollinator, additionally the method of analysis, some patterns and trends in these interactions, the application and its importance are examined.

Keywords : floral scent; pollinators; insect-plant interaction.

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