Stopping to smell the flowers might become much more difficult as climate change causes flowers to lose their signature aromas, researchers claim in a report released on Monday.
Dr. Abdul Latif Mohamad, Professor Emeritus in Science and Technology at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of Malaysia), discussed his findings with AsiaOne News on March 22. Among his findings were that pollinating flowers were not spreading their seeds as easily because of diminishing scent tissues, which are being burned because of increased global temperatures.
The doctor suggests turning to genetically modified flowers to help preserve ailing varieties of flora.
“The act is almost like producing essential oils. Scientists add on certain chemicals for stronger scent,” Latif said, adding that plant life in warmer climes were more likely to be at risk. “The flowers may still have strong scents in colder climate. But locally (in Malaysia), we fear this might be lost forever.”
According to the AsiaOne News report, Latif “related an incident in Sungai Siput, Perak, where the farmers failed to get fruits from their orchards. Upon investigation, Latif’s team discovered that the flowers were no longer pollinating after dust from a hill blast blocked the growth of stigmas.”
“He said Malaysians could no longer rely on nature to heal itself without the help of science,” the report also said. “He said Malaysia needed to follow in the footsteps of Japan, Europe, the United States, China and South Korea which have invested millions in the research of genetically modified seeds.”
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia is located in Bangi, Selangor, roughly 22 miles south of Kuala Lumpur. It was established in 1970, and among its more famous alumni are sociologist Syed Hussein Alatas and Sheikh Muzaphar Shukor, the first Malaysian astronaut.
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