Pollination and seed dispersal of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg (Thymelaeaceae): An economic plant species with extremely small populations in China

Plant Diversity
Gao ChenWeibang Sun

Abstract

Pollination and seed dispersal in angiosperms have long been investigated in order to understand the coevolution of plants and animals. However, the signals from flowers and/or seeds to attract pollinators and/or seed dispersers have received comparatively little attention. In this study, the pollination biology and seed dispersal of the vulnerable agarwood plant Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg, a traditional medicinal plant in China, was studied in its natural distribution range. The reproductive tactics of A. sinensis were studied in detail by employing various tests dealing with fruit set and also seed dispersal. Dynamic headspace extraction followed by GC-MS analysis was also performed in order to reveal the composition of floral scent. The results showed that noctuids and pyralids are the most effective pollinators of pollinator-dependent A. sinensis. The main compounds of the floral scent were (E, E)-α-Farnesene (61.9 ± 3.2%), trans-Ocimene (16.6 ± 1.2%), and Benzyl salicylate (4.6 ± 1.1%). The results obtained from seed dispersal experiments indicate that hornets are effective seed dispersers and they may play an important role in long-distance seed dispersal of A. sinensis. Based on our findings, we recommend several pr...Continue Reading

Citations

Jul 16, 2019·Integrative Zoology·Gao ChenWeibang Sun
Apr 21, 2018·The New Phytologist·Gao ChenWei-Bang Sun
Aug 30, 2018·Molecules : a Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry·Meng-Ru WangShou-Xin Liu
Jul 12, 2017·Journal of Integrative Plant Biology·Gao ChenWei-Bang Sun
Apr 30, 2021·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Ryan E BrockSeirian Sumner

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