Matthew Bergman, PhD Student (Phillips Lab) First-Author Paper On Rose Scented Geranium

Journal of Experimental Biology published on the last day of August Matthew Bergman's first authored paper: Distinct metabolic pathways drive monoterpenoid biosynthesis in a natural population of Pelargonium graveolens (rose scented geranium)

Pelargonium graveolens is a scented geranium species that gives rise to many common hybrids and cultivated varieties that are grown for their essential oils to be used as fragrances and flavorings.  These essential oils range in scent and efficacy based on the chemical compounds in the oil.  P. graveolens produces both p-menthanes which are responsible for minty and citrus scents, and citronelloids which are responsible for rosy scents.  The citronelloids are of greater value to perfumery, while p-menthanes are interesting medicinally.  This paper reports to first used of whole plant isotopic labelling to measure rates of monoterpene biosynthesis.  Using this novel technique, I demonstrated the independent nature of the biosynthetic pathways for p-menthanes and citronelloids. This paper goes on to describe the likely route for p-menthane biosynthesis in scented geraniums by exploiting a natural population of P. graveolens plants that segregate into distinct chemotypes.

PhD Student in Prof. Michael Phillips Lab, Matthew is working on elucidating the volatile biosyntetic pathway in rose geranium.