Floral plant hormones

The methyl ester of jasmonic acid (methyl 3-oxo-2-(2 -pentenyl)-cyclopentaneacetate) is also known as both an active plant hormone and an important fragrance and flavor component with sweet-floral and jasmine-like aroma notes (13). Methyl jasmonate induces plant systems to provide defense from microbial infection, and is a secondary synthesis product of plants. Methyl jasmonate was also isolated from the Oriental fruit moth, Grapholitha molesta as a part of the male sex hormone (7,75). The authors demonstrated that the volatile form of jasmonic acid, methyl jasmonate, is a major signal molecule for inter- and intra species communications. Methyl jasmonate is expected to have... 

Cholesterol serves as the biosynthetic precursor for several vital compounds, including a variety of steroid hormones and bile acids. Many of these compounds, and many other polyisoprenoid compounds biosynthetically related to cholesterol, act biologically as important regulatory compounds [105]. In mammals such regulatory compounds include steroid hormones and vitamins A and D. Steroids and other isoprene derivatives also play important regulatory roles in other phyla. Several insect hormones, for example, are isoprenoid derivatives [106] (cf. Chapter 8). Memy of the floral scents of plants are isoprene derivatives. 

Since the level of cholesterol was highest in the vegetative apices before their transition to flowering (Table 1), and cholesterol levels actually decreased during floral differentiation, it is also possible that cholesterol is in some way associated with the process of floral initiation. For instance, there is some evidence in the literature that the flower-inducing hormone may be an isopentenoid or steroid-like compound Various steroids occur in plants, and cholesterol has been shown to be a key intermediate in their biosynthesis Ojll. Thus, it is possible that cholesterol was being used to make steroids, which may be involved in floral induction. 

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