A review on floral scents and pigments in cucurbits: Their biosynthesis and role in flower visitor interactions
Monica Barman, Raimund Tenhaken, Stefan Dötterl
Abstract
Fruiting of most cucurbits, among them several commercially used species, relies on animals that transfer pollen from male to female flowers. To attract their pollinators, many cucurbits produce large, colorful and scented flowers, which, however, also attract florivores. Knowing the flower visitors and understanding the specific signals, including their biosynthesis, attractive to pollinators and florivores might be useful when aiming to increase pollination and fruiting by ecological measures, breeding and genetic engineering. This review summarizes the knowledge available on floral pigments, scents and visitors of cucurbits. We also review the genetic basis of floral pigment and scent production as well as the role of floral colors and scents in attracting pollinators and florivores. Floral visitors and colors are quite well studied, but there is very limited knowledge on the biosynthesis of the various floral scent compounds described and the cues used by the different flower visitors to find cucurbit flowers.