Scientists can increase the fragrance of flowers

A team of scientists at Hebrew University of Jerusalem has discovered a way to increase the scent of flowers and implant the scent in odorless flowers.

Smell plays an important role in our lives: It affects the selection of fruits and vegetables, perfume, and even partners. However, the smell is not simply the smell we smell, but also what we taste, Professor Alexander Vainstein, who led the research team at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment Robert H. Smith, explain. 'Taste is an important factor in determining food quality'.

The smell of flowers and plants is used to attract pollinators such as bees and beetles, which are important in the fruit-making process. The intensity of the scent that the flower radiates due to the time in the day dominates, depending on the weather, the age of the flower.

Scientists dadx discovered a way to increase the scent of flowers and implant the fragrance in non-scented forms.(Photo: iStockphoto)

In a study published recently in the journal Plant Biotechnology, Professor Vainstein and his assistant Michal Moyal Ben-Tzvi and other researchers have succeeded in finding ways to increase the aroma of flowers by 10 times. and make it radiate all day and night - despite the natural rhythm.

The result, patented by Yissum, a Hebrew university technology transformation company, is intended to apply to other agricultural products.

Using natural ingredients will increase and change not only the smell of fruits and vegetables, but also commercial attractiveness.

The flower industry will be very interested in this discovery, explains Professor Vainstein. 'A lot of flowers lose their scent after years of fertility pollination. Recent achievements will help create flowers with a richer scent while also bringing new fragrance ingredients to flowers'.

More than a third of the participants of the Flower and Plant Association survey said scent affects their choices when buying flowers. Flower fragrance is one of the most popular smells, and the perfume industry has focused a lot of efforts to create perfumes with real scents.

Professor Vainstein's lab is the first to study both the scent and the color of flowers. His greenhouse at Hebrew University's Rehovot facility is full of genetically stimulated flowers, researchers are trying to change their structure, color and scent.