Composition of the Scent in Some <i>Ophrys</i> Orchids Growing in Basilicata (Southern Italy): A Solid-Phase Microextraction Study Coupled with Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Several methods have been used to determine the volatile organic compounds emitted by Ophrys orchids. The use of different methods results in incomparable data. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) has not been used extensively on Ophrys orchids. The main components found in the SPME analysis of the scent in Ophrys orchids were as follows: O. apifera: benzyl benzoate and α-copaene; O. crabronifera subsp. biscutella: pentadecane, heptadecane, and nonadecane; O. bertolonii subsp. bertolonii: pentadecane and heptadecane; O. passionis subsp. garganica: i-propyl palmitate and heptadecane; O. holosericea subsp. apulica: α-copaene, pentadecane, and heptadecane; O. lacaitae: α-copaene, pentadecane, and heptadecane; O. bombyliflora: cyclosativene, pentadecane, and ethyl dodecanoate; O. insectifera: 8-heptadecene and pentadecane; O. lutea: heptadecane and docosane; O. tenthredinifera subsp. neglecta: α-copaene, caryophyllene, and i-propyl palmitate.

Keywords

• <i>Ophrys</i>
• scent composition
• solid-phase microextraction
• gas chromatography–mass spectrometry