Modification of floral scent in flowering plants

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for creating, manipulating, modifying and enhancing floral scent component to plants and cut flowers.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for modifying the biosynthesis of at least one floral scent in a plant, the method comprising the step of: 
 applying to a plant an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one floral scent precursor which modifies the biosynthesis of a floral scent in a plant.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the floral scent precursor is benzoic acid, phenylalanine, trans-cinnamic acid, benzylalcohol, salicylic acid, geranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate, jasmonic acid, eugenol or isoeugenol.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the floral scent precursor is present in the composition in the amount of from about 1 ppm to about 1000 ppm.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the plant is a potted plant, a hydroponically-grown plant, a field-grown plant, a greenhouse-grown plant, an in vitro-grown plant, or a plant grown in a bioreactor.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 1    wherein the composition further comprises nutrient sources, preservatives, excipients or additives.  
     
     
         6 . A method for modifying the emission of at least one floral scent from a plant, the method comprising the step of: 
 applying to a plant an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one floral scent precursor which modifies the emission of a floral scent from a plant.    
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 6    wherein the floral scent precursor is benzoic acid, phenylalanine, trans-cinnamic acid, benzylalcohol, salicylic acid, geranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate, jasmonic acid, eugenol or isoeugenol.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 6    wherein the emission of at least one floral scent from a plant is increased.  
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 6    wherein the floral scent precursor is present in the composition in the amount of from about 1 ppm to about 1000 ppm.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 6    wherein the plant is a potted plant, a hydroponically-grown plant, a field-grown plant, a greenhouse-grown plant, an in vitro grown plant, or a plant grown in a bioreactor.  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 6    wherein the composition further comprises nutrient sources, preservatives, excipients or additives.  
     
     
         12 . A method for modifying the biosynthesis of a floral scent in a plant cutting, the method comprising the step of: 
 exposing a plant cutting to an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one floral scent precursor which modifies the biosynthesis of a floral scent in the cutting.    
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the composition further comprises a nutrient source.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the floral scent precursor is benzoic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, phenylalanine, benzylalcohol, salicylic acid, geranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate, jasmonic acid, eugenol or isoeugenol.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the plant cutting is subjected to refrigerated temperature conditions.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the refrigerated temperature conditions are from about 0° C. to about 20° C.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 16    wherein the refrigerated temperature conditions are from about 2° C. to about 15° C.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the plant cutting is subjected to reduced light conditions.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 17    wherein the plant cutting is subjected to the reduced light conditions for a period of from about 1 hour to about 240 hours.  
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 19    wherein the plant cutting is subjected to the reduced light conditions for a period of from about 12 hours to about 168 hours.  
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the floral scent precursor is present in the composition in the amount of from about 1 ppm to about 1000 ppm.  
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 12    wherein the composition further comprises preservatives, excipients or additives.  
     
     
         23 . The method of    claim 13    wherein the nutrient source is a carbohydrate.  
     
     
         24 . The method of    claim 23    wherein the carbohydrate is sucrose, fructose, glucose, galactose or raffinose.  
     
     
         25 . The method of    claim 13    wherein the nutrient source is present in the amount of about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         26 . A method for modifying the emission of a floral scent from a plant cutting, the method comprising the step of: 
 exposing a plant cutting to an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one floral scent precursor which modifies the emission of a floral scent from the cutting.    
     
     
         27 . The method of    claim 26    wherein the composition further comprises a nutrient source.  
     
     
         28 . The method of    claim 26    wherein the floral scent precursor is benzoic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, benzylalcohol, salicylic acid, geranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate, jasmonic acid, eugenol or isoeugenol.  
     
     
         29 . The method of    claim 26    wherein the emission of at least one floral scent from the plant cutting is increased.  
     
     
         30 . The method of    claim 26    wherein the plant is subjected to refrigerated temperature conditions.  
     
     
         31 . The method of    claim 30    wherein the refrigerated temperature conditions are from about 0° C. to about 20° C.  
     
     
         32 . The method of    claim 31    wherein the refrigerated temperature conditions are from about 2° C. to about 15° C.  
     
     
         33 . The method of    claim 26    wherein the plant cutting is subjected to reduced light conditions.  
     
     
         34 . The method of    claim 33    wherein the plant cutting is subjected to the reduced light conditions for a period of from about 1 hour to about 240 hours.  
     
     
         35 . The method of    claim 34    wherein the plant cutting is subjected to the reduced light conditions for a period of from about 12 hours to about 168 hours.  
     
     
         36 . The method of    claim 26    wherein the floral scent precursor is present in the composition in the amount of from about 1 ppm to about 1000 ppm.  
     
     
         37 . The method of    claim 26    wherein the composition further comprises preservatives, excipients or additives.  
     
     
         38 . The method of    claim 27    wherein the nutrient source is a carbohydrate.  
     
     
         39 . The method of    claim 38    wherein the carbohydrate is sucrose, fructose, glucose, galactose or raffinose.  
     
     
         40 . The method of    claim 27    wherein the nutrient source is present in the amount of about 0.5% to about 10% by weight of the composition.  
     
     
         41 . A method for attracting a pollinator to a plant, the method comprising the step of: 
 applying to a plant an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one floral scent precursor which increases the emission of a floral scent from a plant, wherein the increased emission of said floral scent from the plant is sufficient to attract at least one pollinator to said plant.    
     
     
         42 . The method of    claim 41    wherein the pollinator is a bee or moth.  
     
     
         43 . The method of    claim 41    wherein the floral scent precursor is benzoic acid, phenylalanine, trans-cinnamic acid, benzylalcohol, salicylic acid, geranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate, jasmonic acid, eugenol or isoeugenol.  
     
     
         44 . The method of    claim 41    wherein the floral scent precursor is present in the composition in the amount of from about 1 ppm to about 1000 ppm.  
     
     
         45 . The method of    claim 41    wherein the composition further comprises nutrients, preservatives, excipients or additives.  
     
     
         46 . A method for attracting a plant pest to a plant, the method comprising the step of: 
 applying to a plant an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one floral scent precursor which increases the emission of a floral scent from a plant, wherein the increased emission of said floral scent from the plant is sufficient to attract at least one plant pest to said plant.    
     
     
         47 . The method of    claim 46    wherein the plant pest is an insect.  
     
     
         48 . The method of    claim 46    wherein the floral scent precursor is benzoic acid, phenylalanine, trans-cinnamic acid, benzylalcohol, salicylic acid, geranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate, jasmonic acid, eugenol or isoeugenol.  
     
     
         49 . The method of    claim 46    wherein the floral scent precursor is present in the composition in the amount of from about 1 ppm to about 1000 ppm.  
     
     
         50 . The method of    claim 46    wherein the composition further comprises nutrients, preservatives, excipients or additives.  
     
     
         51 . A method for increasing the floral scent emission from a plant in order to facilitate the identification of at least one volatile compound from said plant, the method comprising the step of: 
 applying to a plant an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one floral scent precursor which increases the emission of a floral scent from a plant, wherein the increased emission of said floral scent from the plant is sufficient to facilitate the identification of at least one volatile compound from said plant.    
     
     
         52 . The method of    claim 51    wherein the floral scent precursor is benzoic acid, phenylalanine, trans-cinnamic acid, benzylalcohol, salicylic acid, geranyl pyrophosphate, farnesyl pyrophosphate, jasmonic acid, eugenol or isoeugenol.  
     
     
         53 . The method of    claim 51    wherein the floral scent precursor is present in the composition in the amount of from about 1 ppm to about 1000 ppm.  
     
     
         54 . The method of    claim 51    wherein the composition further comprises nutrients, preservatives, excipients or additives.