beta-Glucosidase activity is involved in scent production in Narcissus flowers

Extrinsic environmental cues and intrinsic developmental stages of the flow er control the production of scent from flowers. Flowers emit scent only wh en they are open; yet, the precursors for the aromatic compounds are also p resent in buds, stored as nea-fragrant glycosides in the vacuole. We demons trate that in Narcissus flowers scent emission is concurrent with an increa se in the activity of beta-glucosidase. The inhibition in vivo of beta-gluc osidase activity decreases scent emission from Narcissus flowers. The beta- glucosidase activity was partially purified and the K-m, V-max and inhibiti on by gluconic acid lactone was determined. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Irela nd Ltd. All rights reserved.