VOLATILES FROM MEDICAGO-SATIVA COMPLEX FLOWERS

Volatiles from flowers of several lucerne (Medicago sativa complex) ge notypes, belonging to different taxonomic groups and characterised by various flower colours, were isolated by Tenax-trapping and analysed b y GC and GC-mass spectrometry. Thirty-three compounds were identified, including aldehydes, alcohols, esters, ketones, terpenes and furanoid s. Trans-2-hexenal was the most abundant volatile in all genotypes. Ra nking of individual volatile compounds was similar in all genotypes bu t absolute values (mu g g(-1)) for each compound varied widely from ge notype to genotype, being largely associated with flower colour intens ity. In terms of total volatile quantity, the following ranking of flo wer colours was observed: dark green > violet > bright or light yellow . (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.