Biosynthesis of monoterpene scent compounds in roses

Stop to smell the roses Some roses smell beautiful, yet others only look beautiful. Magnard et al. leveraged this distinction to study the biosynthesis of geraniol, a monoterpene alcohol in rose scent (see the Perspective by Tholl and Gershenzon). Enzymes known for geraniol synthesis in other plants, such as basil, did not seem to provide that function for roses. Instead, a diphosphohydrolase, which functions in the cytoplasm of cells in rose petals, generates the geraniol emitted by fragrant roses. Identification of the enzyme and its gene enables marker-assisted breeding to put the perfume back into beauty. Science , this issue p. 81 ; see also p. 28