Nectar Replaced by Volatile Secretion: A Potential New Role for Nectarless Flowers in a Bee-Pollinated Plant Species

Frontiers in Plant Science
E GuimarãesS R Machado

Abstract

The presence of nectarless flowers in nectariferous plants is a widespread phenomenon in angiosperms. However, the frequency and distribution of nectarless flowers in natural populations, and the transition from nectariferous to nectarless flowers are poorly known. Variation in nectar production may affect mutualism stability, since energetic resource availability influences pollinators' foraging behavior. Here, we described the spatial and temporal nectar production patterns of Jacaranda oxyphylla, a bee-pollinated species that naturally presents nectarless flowers. Additionally, we compared nectariferous and nectarless floral disks in order to identify histological, subcellular and chemical changes that accompanied the loss of nectar production ability. For that we used standard methods for light and transmission electron microscopy, and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for chemical analyses. We verified that 47% of flowers did not produce nectar during the whole flower lifespan (nectarless flowers). We also observed remarkable inter-plant variation, with individuals having only nectarless flowers, others only nectariferous ones and most of them showing different proportions of both flower types, with variable ...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1970·Histochemie. Histochemistry. Histochimie·K Ramalingam, M H Ravindranath
Dec 1, 2001·Annual Review of Entomology·Ritsuo Nishida
Jun 25, 2002·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Luc D B GigordAnn Smithson
Jul 3, 2003·Oecologia·Juilee D ThakarMilind G Watve
Jan 18, 2005·Phytochemistry·Stefan DötterlAndreas Jürgens
Oct 9, 2007·Die Naturwissenschaften·Massimo Nepi, Małgorzata Stpiczyńska
Oct 24, 2007·Annals of Botany·Elder Antonio Sousa Paiva, Silvia Rodrigues Machado
Sep 4, 2008·Annals of Botany·Elza GuimarãesRita de Cassia Sindrônia Maimoni-Rodella
Sep 25, 2008·The American Naturalist·J B FerdyB Godelle
Jan 8, 2010·Annals of Botany·A E Vassilyev
Nov 3, 2010·Plant Biology·C C F PossobomS R Machado
Dec 25, 2010·Annals of Botany·Małgorzata StpiczyńskaMagdalena Kamińska
May 31, 2011·American Journal of Botany·Suzana Alcantara, Lúcia G Lohmann
Oct 4, 2011·American Journal of Botany·Kim E SteinerStefan Dötterl
Sep 13, 2013·Annals of Botany·Jean-Marc BrillouetGeneviève Conéjéro
Mar 19, 2016·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Graham H Pyke
Apr 15, 2016·Journal of Chemical Ecology·Florian EtlStefan Dötterl
Dec 14, 2016·Protoplasma·Silvia Rodrigues MachadoTatiane Maria Rodrigues
Feb 6, 2017·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Eran LevinGoggy Davidowitz
Mar 16, 2017·Nature Communications·Daniel D L Gervasi, Florian P Schiestl
Jun 1, 1975·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Bernd Heinrich
Jun 1, 1997·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Ann Smithson, Mark R Macnair

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 22, 2019·PloS One·Camila Vaz de SouzaElza Guimarães
May 20, 2019·Planta·Silvia R Machado, Tatiane M Rodrigues
Apr 8, 2021·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Ariela I HaberDavid E Carr

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
transmission electron microscopy

Software Mentioned

msir
R
ggplot2
LOESS

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.