Pollution affects flower"s fragrance
the attractiveness of a flower diminishes when it does not emit fragrance. And not just we human beings, insects also stop taking interest in such a flower. Researchers from University of Virginia, usa, have sounded out a warning that fragrance in flowers may be short-lived. The cause, they say, is air pollution. This is crucial because both colour and fragrance attract insects towards flowers, thus helping pollination.
Their study shows that increasing levels of nitrogen oxides in the air react with and degrade hydrocarbons responsible for fragrance in flowers. Hydrocarbons react easily with nitrogen oxides (no and no2) in the air to form ozone (o3).
This restricts the fragrance from travelling long distances