Edivaldo Rodrigues Martins Junior1, Ana Carolina Galindo da Costa1,2, Paulo Milet-Pinheiro3, Daniela Navarro4, William Wayt Thomas5, Ana Maria Giulietti6, Isabel Cristina Machado1. 1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. 2. Instituto Tecnológico Vale, Belém, Pará, Brazil. 3. Universidade de Pernambuco, Campus Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. 4. Departamento de Química Fundamental, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. 5. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY, USA. 6. Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, Feria de Santana, Bahia, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Eriocaulaceae exhibit a great variety of floral traits associated with insect (e.g. nectariferous structures) and wind pollination (unisexual flowers, exposed sexual organs and small pollen grains), as well as the 'selfing syndrome' (small flowers, short distance between stigma and anthers, and temporal overlap of male and female phases). Paepalanthus bifidus, P. subtilis and P. tortilis are related species that differ in form, size and colour of floral structures. We aimed to investigate the pollination and reproductive biology of these three species. METHODS: We analysed the floral biology, floral visitors, pollinator behaviour, and the contribution of insects, wind and spontaneous geitonogamy to fruit set. We also evaluated the floral colour and scent of the species. Colour reflectance of capitula of each species was measured and plotted in models of insect vision. Floral scent samples were extracted and the compounds were compared to vegetative scent samples. KEY RESULTS: In all species, the staminate and pistillate flowers are arranged in alternating cycles with a temporal overlap between these phases. Ants were the most frequent floral visitors and were effective pollinators in P. bifidus and P. tortilis, while flies were occasional pollinators in P. tortilis. Floral visitors were not observed in P. subtilis. In all species, fruits were produced by spontaneous geitonogamy, with no evidence of wind pollination. According to the models of insect vision, the colours of the capitula of P. bifidus and P. subtilis are the most inconspicuous for ants and flies. We found no difference between the emission of volatiles of inflorescences and vegetative structures. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that ant pollination might be more widespread in Eriocaulaceae than currently assumed. Furthermore, for small monocarpic plants, mixed mating strategies are most favourable, by ensuring reproduction either by outcrossing when pollinators are abundant or by spontaneous geitonogamy when pollinations are scarce/absent.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Eriocaulaceae exhibit a great variety of floral traits associated with insect (e.g. nectariferous structures) and wind pollination (unisexual flowers, exposed sexual organs and small pollen grains), as well as the 'selfing syndrome' (small flowers, short distance between stigma and anthers, and temporal overlap of male and female phases). Paepalanthus bifidus, P. subtilis and P. tortilis are related species that differ in form, size and colour of floral structures. We aimed to investigate the pollination and reproductive biology of these three species. METHODS: We analysed the floral biology, floral visitors, pollinator behaviour, and the contribution of insects, wind and spontaneous geitonogamy to fruit set. We also evaluated the floral colour and scent of the species. Colour reflectance of capitula of each species was measured and plotted in models of insect vision. Floral scent samples were extracted and the compounds were compared to vegetative scent samples. KEY RESULTS: In all species, the staminate and pistillate flowers are arranged in alternating cycles with a temporal overlap between these phases. Ants were the most frequent floral visitors and were effective pollinators in P. bifidus and P. tortilis, while flies were occasional pollinators in P. tortilis. Floral visitors were not observed in P. subtilis. In all species, fruits were produced by spontaneous geitonogamy, with no evidence of wind pollination. According to the models of insect vision, the colours of the capitula of P. bifidus and P. subtilis are the most inconspicuous for ants and flies. We found no difference between the emission of volatiles of inflorescences and vegetative structures. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that ant pollination might be more widespread in Eriocaulaceae than currently assumed. Furthermore, for small monocarpic plants, mixed mating strategies are most favourable, by ensuring reproduction either by outcrossing when pollinators are abundant or by spontaneous geitonogamy when pollinations are scarce/absent.
Authors: Paulo Milet-Pinheiro; Arthur Domingos-Melo; João B Olivera; Nayara S L Albuquerque; Ana Carolina G Costa; Sinzinando Albuquerque-Lima; Marcelo F R Silva; Daniela M A F Navarro; Artur C D Maia; Lise-Lotte Gundersen; Mario Schubert; Stefan Dötterl; Isabel C Machado Journal: Curr Biol Date: 2020-12-17 Impact factor: 10.834
Authors: Arthur de Lima Silva; Marcelo Trovó; Thomas Stützel; Paula J Rudall; Maria das Graças Sajo; Alessandra Ike Coan Journal: Ann Bot Date: 2021-09-07 Impact factor: 5.040