Infrared thermography and odour composition of the Amorphophallus gigas (Araceae) inflorescence: the cooling effect of the odorous liquid

During the second blooming of a cultivated Amorphophallus gigas Teijsm and Binnend in the Botanical Gardens of the University of Tokyo, the surface temperature of the inflorescence was measured using an infrared camera. Contrary to studies of other species in the genus Amorphophallus, the surface of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany) Germany), 2011-05, Vol.13 (3), p.502-507
Main Authors: Kakishima, S., Terajima, Y., Murata, J., Tsukaya, H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acetic Acid - analysis
Araceae
Araceae - chemistry
butyric acid
Butyric Acid - analysis
evaporation
Inflorescence - chemistry
Infrared Rays
Odorants - analysis
odorous compounds
Pentanoic Acids - analysis
Propionates - analysis
Temperature
thermogenesis
Thermography
valeric acids
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Summary:During the second blooming of a cultivated Amorphophallus gigas Teijsm and Binnend in the Botanical Gardens of the University of Tokyo, the surface temperature of the inflorescence was measured using an infrared camera. Contrary to studies of other species in the genus Amorphophallus, the surface of the inflorescence showed only very faint thermogenesis and had a lower temperature than that of the background. This cooling effect appeared to be due to a loss of heat through evaporation, which was caused by the secretion of a very large amount of odorous liquid. Chemical analysis revealed that the major components of this liquid were acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and valeric acids. The composition of the odorous liquid was slightly different between the spathe surface and the sterile appendix. The major component(s) of the odorous material from the spathe was butyric acid, and from the sterile appendix was valeric acids. These components would play dual roles of adding the characteristic smell to the inflorescence and cooling the inflorescence.
ISSN:1435-8603
1438-8677
DOI:10.1111/j.1438-8677.2010.00399.x