What did the scientists do to test whether or not the Dodder vine was using smell to find its host?

Scientists conducted experiments by placing Dodder vines near potential host plants and then isolating the vines in a controlled environment. They used odorless conditions to rule out other sensory cues and observed the vines' growth patterns and direction. Additionally, they tested the response of the vines to specific plant volatiles, determining if the Dodder was attracted to the scent of its host plants. This helped confirm that the vines relied on olfactory cues to locate their hosts.