Volatile compounds of mammal-pollinated Mucuna macrocarpa (Fabaceae) based on distribution area in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand2025 · In this study, we aimed to identify the variation in the volatile compounds of Mucuna macrocarpa (Fabaceae), a species pollinated by various mammals in different regions. Volatile compounds of M. macrocarpa were collected from four regions using the dynamic head-space method. Collected compounds were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Combined, 112 volatile compounds were identified, with the number per flower ranging from 14 to 63 compounds in each flower. Of these, 1,3-pentadiene was the most dominant compound in all flowers across all regions, accounting for 89.2%–98.5% of the total peak area. Several flowers did not contain the sulfur compounds reported to attract mammals, particularly nectar-feeding bats. The results indicate that this plant attracts a diverse range of mammals without changing its primary compounds. Despite the absence of certain known mammal-attracting volatile compounds, 1,3-pentadiene may still effectively attract a range of arboreal mammalian pollinators.
