The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences in volatile profiles among different Korean chrysanthemum cultivars grown as cut flowers. To optimize a method for sampling and comparing scents, the scents were evaluated by electronic nose (E-nose) at different flowering stages and in different organs and cultivars. The values of maximum resistance changes of metal oxide semiconductor sensors and relative aroma intensity were highest at flowering stage III (full flower stage of ray florets and initial opening disc florets) among different stages and in disc florets among different floral organs of cut chrysanthemums. Among the 12 chrysanthemum cultivars, the highest values for response change and relative aroma intensity were observed in the flowers of the ‘Ilweol’ cultivar. To compare scent patterns among the cultivars, E-nose sensor data was subjected to multivariate statistical analysis. Principal component analysis and discriminant function analysis of the volatile metabolic profile data indicated that chrysanthemum samples were clearly discriminated in a cultivar-dependent manner. These results show that different cultivars are characterized by distinct volatile profiles. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the 12 chrysanthemum cultivars were separated into 3 main groups according to the relationship of volatile profiles; however, chrysanthemum cultivars were not clustered according to the flower shape. We propose that these results could be used as the basis on which to improve the breeding of cut chrysanthemums based on volatile characteristics.

To increase the availability of Maxillaria species and cultivars, we investigated the volatile floral scents in eight species and cultivars of M. tenuifolia, M. variabilis, M. variabilis 'Alba', M. variabilis 'NxO', M. variabilis 'Brown', M. variabilis 'Red', M. variabilis 'Nana', and M. sangnine. The volatile components were analyzed using headspace-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS). We identified 46 volatiles in eight species and cultivars of Maxillaria. α-pinene, eucalyptol, trans-β-ocimene, α-copaene, and β-caryophyllene were major flavor components in the eight Maxillaria species and cultivars. A principle component analysis (PCA) showed that M. tenuifolia, M. variabilis, M. variabilis 'NxO', M. variabilis 'Brown', M. variabilis 'Nana', and M. sangnine (major components: sesquiterpenes) were located closely together on t he s core p lot. However, M. variabilis 'Alba' and M. variabilis 'Red' (major components: monoterpenes) were located closely on the score plot and not analyzed coconut flavor.

Floral scents and metabolites from cut flowers of 14 peony cultivars (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.) were analyzed to discriminate different cultivars and to compare the Korean cultivar with the other cut peonies imported to Korea using electronic nose (E-nose) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant function analysis (DFA) dendrogram of peony floral scents were not precisely same but there were 3 groups including same cultivars. PCA and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) dendrograms of peony metabolites showed that different cut peony cultivars were clustered into two major groups including same cultivars. Fragrance pattern of Korean ‘Taebaek’ was classified to same group with ‘Jubilee’ on the PCA and DFA results and its metabolite pattern was clearly discriminated by the PCA and PLS-DA compared to the other cultivars. These results show that the 14 peony cut flowers could be discriminated corresponding to their chemical relationship and the metabolic profile of Korean ‘Taebaek’ has distinctive characteristics. Furthermore, we suggest that these results could be used as the preliminary data for breeding new cut peony cultivars and for improving the availability of Korean cut peony in cosmetic industry.