Abstract
In specialized pollination systems, floral scents are crucial for flower–pollinator communication, but key volatiles that attract pollinators are unknown for most systems. Deceptive Ceropegia trap flowers are famous for their elaborate mechanisms to trap flies. Recent studies revealed species-specific floral chemistry suggesting highly specialized mimicry strategies. However, volatiles involved in fly attraction were until now identified in C. dolichophylla and C. sandersonii, only. We here present data on C. stenantha for which flower scent and pollinators were recently described, but volatiles involved in flower–fly communication stayed unknown. We performed electrophysiological measurements with scatopsid fly pollinators (Coboldia fuscipes) and identified 12 out of 13 biologically active floral components. Among these volatiles some were never described from any organism but C. stenantha. We synthesized these components, tested them on antennae of male and female flies, and confirmed their biological activity. Overall, our data show that half of the volatiles emitted from C. stenantha flowers are perceived by male and female fly pollinators and are potentially important for flower–fly communication in this pollination system. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of the electrophysiologically active components in the life of scatopsid fly pollinators, and to fully understand the pollination strategy of C. stenantha.
Highlights
Most angiosperms show mutualistic interactions with their animal pollinators, but 4–6% of flowering plants are pollinated by deceit (Renner 2006)
Data on flower scent are available for a total of 14 Ceropegia species (Heiduk et al 2017) and these data point towards specialized mimicry strategies to attract fly pollinators, such as mimicry of injured/dying insects as a food source for kleptoparasitic flies (Heiduk et al 2015, 2016), and rotting fruits (Heiduk et al 2017)
The compounds which are physiologically and/or behaviorally active in the respective fly pollinators are only identified for two species, i.e., C. dolichophylla (Heiduk et al 2015) and C. sandersonii (Heiduk et al 2016), which are both pollinated by kleptoparasitic milichiid flies
Summary
Most angiosperms show mutualistic interactions with their animal pollinators, but 4–6% of flowering plants are pollinated by deceit (Renner 2006). Journal of Comparative Physiology A (2019) 205:301–310 them in the flowers to achieve successful pollination (see Araceae: Chartier et al 2014; Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae: Vogel 1961; Heiduk et al 2017; Aristolochiaceae: Oelschlägel et al 2009, 2015; Orchidaceae: Singer 2002) Celebrities among such cheating plants are the highly sophisticated trap flowers of Ceropegia L. Data on flower scent are available for a total of 14 Ceropegia species (Heiduk et al 2017) and these data point towards specialized mimicry strategies to attract fly pollinators, such as mimicry of injured/dying insects as a food source for kleptoparasitic flies (Heiduk et al 2015, 2016), and rotting fruits (Heiduk et al 2017). Being highly selective chemical lures, Ceropegia flowers provide an ideal system to learn more about fly attractive chemicals, and the behavior as well as life history of flies that act as pollinators
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
