In Vitro Hypoxic Environment Enhances Volatile Compound Production in Persian Violet Flowers

Abstract

Flowers of Persian violet (Exacum affine Balf. f. ex Regel) that are grown in nature typically produce a scent. However, whether Persian violet flowers developed inside sterile containers produce odors has yet to be studied. Therefore, this research aimed to study and compare the effects of ex vitro and in vitro environments on the volatile composition of Persian violet flowers. Persian violet flowers obtained from an in vitro culture and potted plants were analyzed for volatile constituents using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main constituent of the volatile compounds in the Persian violet flowers grown in both conditions was alcohol, with 3-hexen-1-ol, which produces a grassy-green odor, being the dominant substance. In addition, the in vitro Persian violet flowers contained the highest amount of ethanol, which produces a wine aroma—followed by the terpene alcohol β-citronellol, which produces a rose scent. However, 3-carene (citrus odor), caryophyllene (floral odor), humulene (woody odor), and β-ionone (floral odor) were detected only in Persian violet flowers grown in natural conditions. Therefore, these results indicate that hypoxia possibly occurred during plantlet growth in the in vitro environment and caused some different volatile compound production from that in natural conditions.