Abstract
BackgroundNectar reabsorption is a widely known phenomenon, related to the strategy of resource-recovery and also to maintain the nectar homeostasis at the nectary. The method currently performed to demonstrate nectar being reabsorbed involves the use of radioactive tracers applied to the nectary. Although this method works perfectly, it is complex and requires specific supplies and equipment. Therefore, here we propose an efficient method to obtain a visual demonstration of nectar reabsorption, adapting the use of Lucifer Yellow CH (LYCH), a fluorescent membrane-impermeable dye that can enter the vacuole by endocytosis.ResultsWe applied a LYCH solution to the floral nectary (FN) of Cucurbita pepo L., which is a species known for its ability of nectar reabsorption, and to the extrafloral nectary (EFN) of Passiflora edulis Sims which does not reabsorb the secreted nectar. In all tests performed, we observed that LYCH stained the nectary tissues differentially according to the reabsorption ability of the nectary. The treated FN of C. pepo presented a concentrated fluorescence at the epidermis that decreased at the deeper nectary parenchyma, until reaching the vascular bundles, indicating nectar reabsorption in the flowers of the species. In contrast, treated EFN of P. edulis presented fluorescence only at the cuticle surface, indicating that nectar is not reabsorbed by that particular tissue.ConclusionLYCH is an efficient marker to demonstrate nectar reabsorption.
Highlights
Nectar reabsorption is a widely known phenomenon, related to the strategy of resource-recovery and to maintain the nectar homeostasis at the nectary
We performed tests with Lucifer Yellow CH (LYCH) dye, adapting its already known use in studies of nectar secretion and nectary structure [11,12], on the floral nectaries of Cucurbita pepo L. (Cucurbitaceae), a species recognized by its ability for nectar reabsorption [2,16,17], and extrafloral nectaries of Passiflora edulis Sims (Passifloraceae), where structural characteristics indicates that nectar reabsorption does not occur [18,19]
In all tests performed it is unequivocal that LYCH marks the pathway of nectar according to the ability of the nectary to reabsorb it
Summary
We applied a LYCH solution to the floral nectary (FN) of Cucurbita pepo L., which is a species known for its ability of nectar reabsorption, and to the extrafloral nectary (EFN) of Passiflora edulis Sims which does not reabsorb the secreted nectar. We observed that LYCH stained the nectary tissues differentially according to the reabsorption ability of the nectary. The treated FN of C. pepo presented a concentrated fluorescence at the epidermis that decreased at the deeper nectary parenchyma, until reaching the vascular bundles, indicating nectar reabsorption in the flowers of the species. Treated EFN of P. edulis presented fluorescence only at the cuticle surface, indicating that nectar is not reabsorbed by that particular tissue
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