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Selection emphasis on cyme size and flower color of Heliotropium arborescens L. has led to cultivars with diminished floral fragrance. As a preliminary inquiry into the fragrance chemistry of the species, we identified 41 volatile compounds emanating from the flowers of 'Marine' via isolation (Tenax trapping) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The majority of the volatile compounds emanating from the flowers were terpenes (camphene, p-cymene, δ-3-carene, α-humulene, δ-1-limonene, linalool, (E)-β-ocimene, α-pinene, and β-thujone), benzenoids of which benzaldehyde was the most abundant, aldehydes (decanal, heptanal, nonanal and octanal), and hydrocarbons (decane, heneicosane, heptadecane, hexadecane, nonadecane, nonane, octadecane, tetradecane, tridecane and undecane) along with a cross-section of other compounds. Subsequent identification and quantification of critical ordorants will facilitate selecting new cultivars with quantitative and qualitative improvements in fragrance.

A broad cross-section of volatiles emanating from four species of popular indoor ornamental plants (Spathiphyllum wallisii Regel, Sansevieria trifasciata Prain, Ficus benjamina L., and Chrysalidocarpus lutescens Wendl.) was identified and categorized based on source. Volatile organic compounds from individual plants were obtained using a dynamic headspace system and trapped on Tenax TA during the day and again at night. Using short-path thermal desorption and cryofocusing, the volatiles were transferred onto a capillary column and analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy. The volatiles originated from the plants, media/micro-organisms, pot, and pesticides. A total of 23, 12, 13, and 16 compounds were identified from S. wallisii, S. trifasciata, F. benjamina, and C. lutescens, respectively. The night emanation rate was substantially reduced (i.e., by 30.1%, 69.5%, 73.7%, and 63.1%, respectively) reflecting in part the regulation of biosynthesis and the greater diffusion resistance when the stomata were closed. S. wallisii had the highest emanation rate, releasing 15 terpenoid compounds [e.g., linaloloxide, linalool, (Z)-β-farnesene, farnesal, (+)-δ-cadinene, (+)-β-costol] into the surrounding air. Alpha-farnesene (90.3%) was quantitatively the dominant volatile present followed by (Z)-β-farnesene (1.4%), (+)-β-costol (1.4%), and farnesal (1.1%). Substantially fewer terpenoids (i.e., two, nine, and eight) emanated from S. trifasciata, F. benjamina, and C. lutescens, which quantitatively emitted fewer volatiles than S. wallisii. Most terpenoids from the four species were sesquiterpenes rather than monoterpenes. Methyl salicylate, a plant-signaling compound, was emitted by all four species. Certain volatiles (e.g., 2-chlorobenzonitrile, 1-ethyl-3,5-dimethylbenzene) were released from growth media and/or micro-organisms therein; other sources included the plastic pot (e.g., 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane) and pesticide ingredients [e.g., 2-(2-methoxy- ethoxy)ethanol, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, homosalate].

The principal bitter sesquiterpene lactones (BSLs; latucin, 8-deoxylactucin, and lactucopicrin) in six red and four green-pigmented leaf lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa L.) cultivars were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and the contribution of each to the overall bitterness was determined. The concentration of each BSL and the total varied significantly among cultivars and there were significant differences resulting from leaf color (green versus red) and morphology (cut versus curled leaves) with red and curled leaf cultivars having higher BSL concentrations. The concentrations of lactucin, 8-deoxylactucin, and lactucopicrin ranged from 2.9 to 17.2, 2.8 to 17.1, and 8.8 to 36.1 μg·g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively, with the total concentration ranging from 14.6 to 67.7 μg·g⁻¹. Bitterness of the cultivars was assessed using a bitter activity value calculated using the concentration and bitterness threshold value for each BSL. Lactucopicrin was the primary contributor to bitterness as a result of its concentration and lower bitterness threshold; its relative proportion of the total bitterness activity value across all cultivars was over 72%. The concentration of individual BSLs differed with leaf location on the plant (i.e., basal, midstalk, and flower stalk). The concentrations in lactucin, 8-deoxylactucin, and lactucopicrin in flower stalk leaves were significantly higher (i.e., 2.9, 12.4, and 5.4 times, respectively) than in basal leaves, with the concentrations increasing acropetally. Genetic differences among cultivars and with leaf location on the plant contribute to the wide range in bitterness in lettuce.

Twenty-eight ornamental species commonly used for interior plantscapes were screened for their ability to remove five volatile indoor pollutants: aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene and toluene), aliphatic hydrocarbon (octane), halogenated hydrocarbon [trichloroethylene (TCE)], and terpene (α-pinene). Individual plants were placed in 10.5-L gas-tight glass jars and exposed to ≈10 ppm (31.9, 53.7, 37.7, 46.7, and 55.7 mg·m⁻³) of benzene, TCE, toluene, octane, and α-pinene, respectively. Air samples (1.0 mL) within the glass containers were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy 3 and 6 h after exposure to the test pollutants to determine removal efficiency by monitoring the decline in concentration over 6 h within sealed glass containers. To determine removal by the plant, removal by other means (glass, plant pot, media) was subtracted. The removal efficiency, expressed on a leaf area basis for each volatile organic compound (VOC), varied with plant species. Of the 28 species tested, Hemigraphis alternata, Hedera helix, Hoya carnosa, and Asparagus densiflorus had the highest removal efficiencies for all pollutants; Tradescantia pallida displayed superior removal efficiency for four of the five VOCs (i.e., benzene, toluene, TCE, and α-pinene). The five species ranged in their removal efficiency from 26.08 to 44.04 μg·m⁻³·m⁻²·h⁻¹ of the total VOCs. Fittonia argyroneura effectively removed benzene, toluene, and TCE. Ficus benjamina effectively removed octane and α-pinene, whereas Polyscias fruticosa effectively removed octane. The variation in removal efficiency among species indicates that for maximum improvement of indoor air quality, multiple species are needed. The number and type of plants should be tailored to the type of VOCs present and their rates of emanation at each specific indoor location.