## 3 Discussion
### Pollinators and Floral Scents  
_Apis mellifera_ is the main pollinator of the two _Asparagus_ species under study. The frequency of its visits and its pollen transport capacity are determining factors for the reproductive success of both species. Moreover, in _A. albus_, we also observed a notable number of visits by insects belonging to the genus _Lasioglossum_. It is also well-established that bees utilize not only visual, but also olfactory floral signals to locate appropriate host plants (Supplementary Figure S2). Additionally, numerous studies have recognized the correlation between the intensity and quality of floral scent and the provision of floral rewards (see, for example, [56; 57; 58]). In both species, the greatest production of volatiles occurred in the early morning hours. On the other hand, there was a positive relationship between the intensity of aroma production and the number of pollinator visits. This relationship was particularly consistent in _A. albus_, which exhibited the highest concentration of benzenoids during this time of day. Most compounds emitted by _A. albus_ flowers were benzenoids, with phenylacetaldehyde being the main compound (almost 65% of total emission). Some authors [59] proved that the floral signal phenylacetaldehyde was positively correlated with the amount of reward in _Brassica rapa_ L., which is a species that is mainly pollinated by _A. mellifera_ and _Bombus terrestris_ L. The hydrocarbon group of sesquiterpenoids ((_Z_,_E_)-\(\alpha\)-farnesene and (_E_,_E_)-\(\alpha\)-farnesene) was common in both species of _Asparagus_. The ecological role of these sesquiterpenes has been reported as attractive to the honeybee [60; 61], bumblebees, _B. terrestris_[2] butterflies, and moths [62; 63]. The waxy sweet fragrance of pentadecane, despite being an unusual floral compound and having a lower load in the floral scent emissions of _A. albus_ (1.5% during the early hours of the day), has been described in some Orchidaceae species [64] and in the floral volatiles of cacao trees [65]. In turn, the floral bouquet of _A. acutildius_ was dominated by compounds derived from the degradation of carotenoids,with dihydro-\(\beta\)-ionone being the major volatile compound, representing almost 40% of the total scent emissions. This ionone has been reported as a floral volatile in various species, is frequently associated with more widespread ionones, and is known to play an essential role in pollinator attraction [66; 67; 68]. \(\beta\)-Ionone has been found to attract males of orchid bees, _Euglossa mandibularis_ (Hymenoptera, Apidae) [69], to repel the cabbage butterfly (_Pieris rapae_) [70], and to inhibit the movement of the crucifer flea beetle (_Phyllotreta cruciferae_) [71]. Additionally, ionone compounds have been described as having a repellent effect against the spider mite _Tetranychus urticae_[72], one of the most important pathologies in the _Asparagus_ genus. Aromatic monoterepenes, such as geranyl derivatives (about 20% of the total scent), were emitted by _A. acutifolius_ and are found in many plants' essential oils [73; 74]. Geranyl acetone has been shown to play an important role in plant-pollinator interactions, to have antibacterial effects against many bacterial strains, and to exhibit antioxidant activity [74]. Thus, the volatile profiles of the two species, especially that of _A. albus_, conformed to the attraction-information function appropriate to the sensitivity of their main pollinators. Furthermore, the substantial presence of ionones in the floral scent of _A. acutifolius_ suggests that, apart from their role in attracting honeybees, they may also serve as a defensive and deterrent mechanism against other insects. The study provides evidence that two coexisting species with synchronous flowering and distinct sexual profiles (hermaphroditic and functional diocious) are able to attract the same primary pollinators by exhibiting contrasting floral profiles. Consequently, both species can successfully bear fruit and coexist.