Floral fragrances of Hemerocallis L. (daylily) evaluated by headspace solid-phase microextraction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Traditional breeding objectives focusing on flower type and colour have resulted in the lack of floral fragrances in modern daylilies. Headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) was used to determine the contributions of floral volatiles to floral fragrances in 46 daylilies (seven species, one variety, and 38 cultivars). Thirty-seven floral volatiles were identified, including 30 terpenoids, five benzenoids, and two nitrogenous compounds. Sensory evaluation and HS-SPME-GC-MS revealed that variations in the relative emission rates and proportions of (E)-β-ocimene and linalool were mainly responsible for different fragrance patterns in Hemerocallis. The studied daylilies were grouped to six fragrance patterns: (1) intense herbaceous and pungent scent, having the highest (E)-β-ocimene emission level; (2) intense flowery and pungent scent, having medium (E)-β-ocimene and low linalool emission levels; (3) medium flowery and sweet scent, having very low (E)-β-ocimene and the highest linalool emission levels; (4) low flowery and fresh scent, having low (E)-β-ocimene and no linalool emission levels; (5) very low herbaceous and fresh scent, having very low (E)-β-ocimene and linalool emission levels; and (6) no scent, having trace amounts of floral volatiles.