Chemical identity of a rotting animal-like odor emitted from the inflorescence of the titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum).

Abstract

The titan arum, Amorphophallus titanum, is a flowering plant with the largest inflorescence in the world. The flower emits a unique rotting animal-like odor that attracts insects for pollination. To determine the chemical identity of this characteristic odor, we performed gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-olfactometry analysis of volatiles derived from the inflorescence. The main odorant causing the smell during the flower-opening phase was identified as dimethyl trisulfide, a compound with a sulfury odor that has been found to be emitted from some vegetables, microorganisms, and cancerous wounds.

• Authors: Mika Shirasu, Kouki Fujioka, Satoshi Kakishima, Shunji Nagai, Yasuko Tomizawa, Hirokazu Tsukaya, Jin Murata, Yoshinobu Manome, Kazushige Touhara
• Journal: Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry (Biosci Biotechnol Biochem) Vol. 74 Issue 12 Pg. 2550-4 ( 2010) ISSN: 1347-6947 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21150089 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Sulfides
• dimethyl trisulfide

Topics

• Amorphophallus (chemistry)
• Animals
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
• Inflorescence (chemistry)
• Odorants (analysis)
• Sulfides (analysis, chemistry, isolation & purification)
• Time Factors
• Volatilization