Naturalization of the bodhi fig tree (Ficus religiosa L. - Moraceae) in Brazil

Marcelo Dias Vianna-Filho,Rodrigo Augusto Santinelo Pereira,Ruy José Válka Alves,Yan-Qiong Peng

doi:10.14393/bj-v33n1a2017-34177

Abstract

Ficus religiosa L. is one of the most valued cultivated ornamental ﬁg trees. Native to Asia, it is known as Bodhi tree. Since fig trees are involved in a highly species-specific pollination mutualism with agaonid wasps, exotic fig species usually fail to produce seeds due to the lack of the specific pollinating wasps. Since 2005 we have been observing plantlets of F. religiosa growing on buildings in Rio de Janeiro city, Brazil, showing that this species was hosting pollinating wasps and, consequently, undertaking sexual reproduction outside its native range. We observed that Platyscapa quadraticeps Mayr, 1885 , the original pollinator in Asia, was occurring in figs of F. religiosa in Brazil. Considering that several non-pollinating ﬁg wasp species are associated with F. religiosa in its native areas, novel occurrences of wasps may be reported in the future in Brazil. The presence of the native pollinator provides conditions for this exotic tree to become naturalized and/or invasive in Brazil, potentially causing considerable damage to buildings and urban trees.

Highlights

There are over 750 species of fig trees (Ficus spp., Moraceae), many of them employed as ornamental plants, especially those of the subgenus Urostigma Miq., the most diverse group in the genus (BERG, 1989)
We reported the occurrence of Platyscapa quadraticeps in F. religiosa fig trees in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the subsequent spread of plantlets of this species on walls, roofs and other urban constructions
Plantlets of F. religiosa have been found on walls, roofs and other urban constructions in Rio de Janeiro city, Brazil (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

There are over 750 species of fig trees (Ficus spp., Moraceae), many of them employed as ornamental plants, especially those of the subgenus Urostigma Miq., the most diverse group in the genus (BERG, 1989). Fig trees have highly adapted inflorescences, defined by an enclosed inflorescence, the syconium, which is the arena for interactions with fig wasps. Each fig has its own pollinating wasp species (sometimes more than one) from the family Agaonidae, upon which it depends for pollination (COOK; RASPLUS, 2003). Successful biological invasion by a Ficus species involves co-invasion by its symbiont pollinator. Fig wasps disperse (or are introduced by man) to an area where their host fig tree has been planted. Towns and cities may act as centers of establishment for Ficus spp. from outside the area (McPHERSON, 1999)

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