Pollination Success Research Articles

Mast seeding: Study of oak mechanisms carries wider lessons

Variable acorn crops in oaks were thought to reflect variable pollination success, but a new study shows local climates determine whether pollination or flower production drives acorn crops. This affects forest regeneration under climate change, and cautions against dichotomous summaries of biological phenomena.

Cover Picture and Issue Information

Functional EcologyVolume 37, Issue 3 p. 473-475 COVER PICTURE AND ISSUE INFORMATIONFree Access Cover Picture and Issue Information First published: 02 March 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2435.14073AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Graphical Abstract Flowering plants need pollinators to transfer pollen, such as those pictured on this Tamarix chinensis (Credit: Le Jiao). The movement behavior and strategy of pollinators significantly affects pollination success and the subsequent seed set, especially for plant populations that are faced with habitat loss. Jiao et al. 2022 (DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14252) simulated two key stages of pollinator movement during the pollination process: a foraging response stage towards plant patches mediated by floral scents, and an individual dispersal stage between plant patches mediated by a densitydependent dispersal strategy. Plant reproduction was negatively affected by habitat loss, as the emission amount of floral scents and the foraging success rate of pollinators decreased in the context of habitat loss. However, the pollinator movement strategy (i.e. density-dependent dispersal strategy) can help mitigate adverse impacts by promoting visitation to suboptimal plant patches, thereby improving the persistence of the plant population in fragmented landscapes. Altogether, this simulation result points to the positive role of pollinator movement strategy in alleviating the negative effects of habitat loss on plant reproduction. Volume37, Issue3March 2023Pages 473-475 RelatedInformation

Front Cover

Next article FreeFront CoverPDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmailQR Code SectionsMoreOn the Cover: Flowers of the generalist-pollinated, mixed-mating biennial Sabatia angularis (Gentianaceae). Intact, unpollinated S. angularis flowers last an average of approximately 9 days in greenhouse conditions but can live as many as 20 days. In this issue (pp. 157–163), Spigler and Charles present novel experimental evidence for inbreeding depression in this key trait influencing pollination success. Moreover, flowers of selfed S. angularis are smaller as well as shorter lived compared those produced by outcrossed plants. Inbreeding depression in these traits could alter plant-pollinator interaction outcomes, leaving selfed plants with even greater disadvantages in pollen-limited environments. (Photo taken by Rachel Spigler in Temple University Plant Growth Facility.) Next article DetailsFiguresReferencesCited by International Journal of Plant Sciences Volume 184, Number 3March/April 2023 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/725196 © 2023 The University of Chicago. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Molecular phylogenetic tools reveal the phytogeographic history of the genus Capparis L. and suggest its reclassification

Capparis is the largest genus of the family Capparaceae, represented by 142 species in the tropics and subtropics of the Old World. Despite being one of the medicinally and economically important genera with its unique distribution pattern, the evolutionary history of Capparis remained unexplored. Moreover, the phylogenetic relationships, origin, dispersal, and character evolution of the genus were poorly understood. With the objectives to (i) test the congruence between the molecular and morphological datasets, (ii) validate Jacobs' hypothesis on the origin, dispersal, and speciation pattern of Capparis using new fossil data, and (iii) understand the possible evolutionary role of some key morphological characters, we sampled across the five speciation centres of Capparis. The results derived from three plastidial markers (matK, trnL-F and rbcL) revealed incongruence with the morphology based delimitations and suggested a new sectional classification in Capparis. Divergence dating analysis revealed that Capparaceae originated in Africa at 47.25 MYA and Capparis in Peninsular India at about 29.32 MYA. Capparis followed multiple forward and backward dispersal, supporting the “into and out of India” hypothesis. These dispersal events were consistent with the various land bridges in different parts of the Old World during the Eocene to Miocene. The only long-distance dispersal event was observed in the case of the New World Capparaceae, corroborating the earlier findings. Our results suggest West Asia to the North African region as another centre of speciation for Capparis and present a robust age estimate for the genus. The character state reconstruction of Capparis revealed a unique evolutionary adaptation due to exposure to various climatic conditions and the acquisition of suitable pollination strategies. We hypothesize that the gynophore length, sepal shape, and blotches on petals contribute substantially to the pollination success.

Pollen biology and reproductive ecology of selected paleotropical Dendrobiums and its commercial hybrids

Understanding the reproductive biology is of great importance in the development of novel hybrids in ornamental plants. Pollen fitness-related traits are crucial for the pollination success in any plant species including dendrobiums. The aim of the study was to determine and compare the fitness traits of ten commercial Dendrobium hybrids and two indigenous Dendrobium species, D. crumenatum and D. anosmum found in Sri Lanka. We measured pollen viability, pollen germinability, and fruit production after controlled pollination. The effect of storage temperature on D. crumenatum pollen viability was evaluated to establish a suitable pollen storage method to improve future breeding programmes, as the flowering of dendrobiums is seasonal. The reproductive ecology of selected dendrobiums was studied by the observations of visits of natural pollinators and by assessing floral morphology to predict their potential pollinators. Six commercial hybrids had non-viable pollen while D. crumenatum showed the highest pollen germinability under both in vivo and in vitro conditions. Ninety percent of the commercial hybrids failed in vitro pollen germination whereas under in vivo conditions 50% were successful. Self-incompatibility in D. crumenatum was observed in both hand-pollination and under natural pollination. Pollen of D. crumenatum can be stored for two weeks at 9°C maintaining viability and germinability. Selected dendrobiums have shown adaptations to melittophily, suggesting the pollination by bees. Findings indicated a reduction of male fitness in most of the commercial Dendrobium hybrids and a higher fruit set is seen in selfing than cross-pollination. The present study provides information for developing conservation strategies and future hybridization programmes in paleotropical dendrobiums.

The effect of inflorescence display size and flower position on pollination success in two deceptive and one rewarding orchid.

Inflorescence display size and flower position on the inflorescence play important roles in plant reproduction, in the formation of fruits and are primarily linked to pollinator behaviour. We used three orchids to determine how visitation rates and choice of pollinator depend on number and position of the flowers along the inflorescence. We measured reproductive success in (1) natural conditions, (2) hand-pollination experiments and (3) an experimental design, by modifying composition of inflorescences in populations of two deceptive orchids, Orchis anthropophora and O. italica, and one rewarding orchid, Anacamptis coriophora subsp. fragrans. There were no differences in natural fruit production in relation to flower position on the inflorescence (i.e. upper versus lower part), suggesting no preference of pollinators for different parts of the inflorescence. Hand-pollination experiments highlighted low pollen limitation in A. coriophora subsp. fragrans but high limitation in O. italica and O. anthropophora. Reproductive success of deceptive orchids in experimental plots decreased significantly when flowers on the upper half of the inflorescence were removed leading to reduced floral display, while reproductive success of the nectariferous species did not differ significantly. Our data highlight that in the examined orchids there is no clear relationship between fruit formation and flower position along inflorescences. Thus we can affirm that, for orchids, the entire inflorescence plays a dominant role in insect attraction but the part of the flower spike does not influence the choice of the insect. This implies that all flowers have the same possibility of receiving visits from pollinators, and therefore each flower has the same opportunity to set fruit.

Inbreeding Reduces Floral Longevity and Flower Size in the Mixed-Mating Biennial Sabatia angularis

Premise of research. Inbreeding depression is well known to contribute to the maintenance of outcrossing in flowering plants because of its direct negative impacts on germination, survival, and fertility. Yet inbreeding depression could also impact fitness indirectly by affecting traits that govern biotic interactions. Relatively little is known about inbreeding depression on traits related to pollination success. Although often associated with pollinator attraction or reward, pollination success is also determined by floral longevity. Inbreeding depression in floral longevity has not been studied but has the potential to compound pollination disadvantages confronting inbred plants.Methodology. We investigated inbreeding depression for traits related to pollination success in the mixed-mating biennial Sabatia angularis L. (Pursh) (Gentianaceae). Under controlled, pollinator-free conditions, we performed crosses to create families of selfed and outcross seed and raised these plants to flower. We compared selfed and outcrossed individuals for the following traits: flower number, flower size, corolla longevity, stigma longevity, and plant height. We also considered whether inbreeding depression was influenced by flower number–longevity trade-offs or plant size.Pivotal results. Selfed plants produced significantly smaller flowers that lived for a significantly shorter amount of time than flowers of outcrossed plants, based on corolla and stigma longevity. Consistent with prior work, we found trade-offs between floral longevity and flower number and positive relationships between longevity and plant height. However, we did not detect inbreeding depression for flower number or plant size.Conclusions. We find novel evidence that inbreeding reduces both floral longevity and flower size. Although moderate, inbreeding depression for these traits could leave selfed plants at a disadvantage in pollen-limited environments, especially where rates of pollen export outpace deposition such that plants are forced to rely on pollinators for seed production. Our work contributes to our understanding of how inbreeding depression can alter plant-pollinator interaction outcomes and raises questions about its influence on reproductive allocation.

SCARECROW-like GRAS protein PES positively regulates petunia floral scent production.

Emission of scent volatiles by flowers is important for successful pollination and consequently, reproduction. Petunia (Petunia hybrida) floral scent is formed mainly by volatile products of the phenylpropanoid pathway. We identified and characterized a regulator of petunia scent production: the GRAS protein PHENYLPROPANOID EMISSION-REGULATING SCARECROW-LIKE (PES). Its expression increased in petals during bud development and was highest in open flowers. Overexpression of PES increased the production of floral volatiles, while its suppression resulted in scent reduction. We showed that PES upregulates the expression of genes encoding enzymes of the phenylpropanoid and shikimate pathways in petals, and of the core regulator of volatile biosynthesis ODORANT1 by activating its promoter. PES is an ortholog of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) PHYTOCHROME A SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION 1, involved in physiological responses to far-red (FR) light. Analyses of the effect of nonphotosynthetic irradiation (low-intensity FR light) on petunia floral volatiles revealed FR light as a scent-activating factor. While PHYTOCHROME A regulated scent-related gene expression and floral scent production under FR light, the influence of PES on volatile production was not limited by FR light conditions.

Secondary pollinators contribute to reproductive success of a pink-flowered sand verbena population.

Secondary pollinators contribute to reproductive success of a pink-flowered sand verbena population.

Convergent relationships between flower economics and hydraulic traits across aquatic and terrestrial herbaceous plants

Maintaining open flowers is critical for successful pollination and depends on long-term water and carbon balance. Yet the relationship between how flower hydraulic traits are coordinated in different habitats is poorly understood. Here, we hypothesize that the coordination and trade-offs between floral hydraulics and economics traits are independent of environmental conditions. To test this hypothesis, we investigated a total of 27 flower economics and hydraulic traits in six aquatic and six terrestrial herbaceous species grown in a tropical botanical garden. We found that although there were a few significant differences, most flower hydraulics and economics traits did not differ significantly between aquatic and terrestrial herbaceous plants. Both flower mass per area and floral longevity were significantly positively correlated with the time required for drying full-hydrated flowers to 70% relative water content. Flower dry matter content was strongly and positively related to drought tolerance of the flowers as indicated by flower water potential at the turgor loss point. In addition, there was a trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and the construction cost of a flower across species. Our results show that flowers of aquatic and terrestrial plants follow the same economics spectrum pattern. These results suggest a convergent flower economics design across terrestrial and aquatic plants, providing new insights into the mechanisms by which floral organs adapt to aquatic and terrestrial habitats.

Flower patterns improve foraging efficiency in bumblebees by guiding approach flight and landing

Abstract Colourful patterns on flowers are thought to benefit both pollinators and the plants they visit, by increasing the plants' pollination success via an increased foraging efficiency of the pollinators. This increased efficiency is assumed to result from a guidance effect of the flower patterns, correspondingly termed ‘nectar guides’, which indicate the position of the nectary to visiting pollinators, thus reducing their flower handling time. Although it is well established that flower patterns play an important role in flower choice, the mechanisms by which they improve the foraging efficiency of flower‐visiting insects remain poorly understood. In this study, we quantified the contributions of patterns to all phases of flower interaction in the buff‐tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris. We analysed the bees' flight paths, as well as landing positions and walking tracks on artificial flowers with different pattern types. We reveal that flower patterns reduced the overall flower handling time of the bees by up to 30%, by guiding their approach flight, landing positions and departure decisions. Surprisingly, we observed no improvement in nectary discovery time after the bees landed on the flower. Since we tested experienced foragers, which represent the majority of insect pollinators active in nature, the newly described nectary‐independent guidance effects of flower patterns are of high ecological relevance. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Increasing density enhances pollination and fecundity in the rewarding orchid Gymnadenia conopsea

Conspecific density is an important factor in determining the fecundity of pollinator-dependent plants. However, the outcome of increased conspecific density can range from reduced per capita pollination rates and fecundity (competition) to increased per capita pollination rates and fecundity (facilitation). I tested whether local conspecific density influenced pollination and fecundity in the rewarding orchid, Gymnadenia conopsea. I measured the distance to each of the nearest five plants in sixty patches of varying density in a large population in the Italian Apennine mountains. I examined whether pollen removal, pollen deposition, fruit, and seed set varied according to mean distance from conspecifics and plant height. After controlling for plant position in the population, the proportion of pollen removal, pollen deposition, and fruit set decreased with increasing distance from conspecifics, while pollen removal and deposition, but not fruit set, increased with increasing plant height. The proportion of viable seeds per fruit did not vary according to conspecific distance. Decreases in pollen removal, pollen deposition, and fruit set occurred within an average of 1 m distance from conspecific plants, indicating that local aggregation is an important determinant of both pollination success and fecundity. These results suggest that despite being a geographically widespread orchid, G. conopsea may suffer reduced fecundity when it occurs in small, isolated populations. Such field investigations can potentially lead to better predictions for successful re-establishment of populations of orchids under conservation-aided restoration efforts.

Density‐dependent dispersal strategy of pollinator moderates the adverse effect of habitat loss on plant reproduction: An integrated model based on pollinators' behavioural response

Abstract Major challenges for plant conservation are predicting the effect of habitat loss on pollination success and plant reproduction potential. Most studies report that pollinator movement is affected by quantitative and spatial characteristics of landscapes. However, little is known about the role of pollinator movement, impacted by floral volatiles and intraspecies interaction, on plant reproduction in fragmented landscapes. To clarify the effect of pollinator movement on plant reproduction relative to habitat loss, we developed an integrated model incorporating pollinator's foraging response with its dispersal process mediated by a density‐dependent dispersal (DDD) strategy. This model performed better in capturing behaviour response of pollinators than do current methods. The integrated model was verified with field results of pollinator visitation and plant reproduction of saltcedar Tamarix chinensis inhabiting the Yellow River Delta, and then was compared against a dispersal strategy called density‐independent dispersal (DID). The model was applied to landscapes with various non‐habitat percentage (NHP) to explore the effect of habitat loss on plant reproduction. Results suggested that saltcedar populations differ in their responses to habitat loss, which depended on the spatial scales considered. At landscape scale, increasing NHP significantly inhibited dispersion extent of floral volatiles and therefore reduced pollinator visitation and subsequent seed production, especially when NHP exceeded the critical threshold of 0.6. However, at patch scale, comparing with DID strategy, the DDD strategy enabled pollinators to increase their utilization of flowers by 43.42% and 6.79% in low‐density and distant plant patches, whereas their utilization was reduced by 7.75% and 2.24% in high‐density and central patches, respectively. Plant reproduction was improved correspondingly in low‐density and distant patches under different NHPs. Consequently, habitat loss inhibits the volatile dispersion and interferes the foraging success of pollinators, a major factor influencing plant reproduction at landscape scale. At patch scale, adaptive utilization of pollinators exhibiting DDD strategy alleviates the negative effect of habitat loss on plant production, and maintain plant population persistence. Since pollinator behavioural response is critical to plant reproduction, we recommend the use of the here presented integrated model to assess the impact of habitat loss on plant reproduction. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Viabilitas Serbuk Sari dan Keberhasilan Persilangan antara Durian Montong dan Sitokong pada Tiga Waktu Berbeda

The success of durian pollination in nature is very low (<5%) due to high self-incompatibility in durian flowers. Artificial cross-pollination is an alternative method that can be used to increase the successful pollination of durian. So, information on the pollen viability of the durian flower and the time of artificial cross-pollination accurate and effective is required. This research aimed to examine the pollen viability of the durian varieties of Montong and Sitokong varieties at three different times and to determine the success rate of artificial cross-pollination between both varieties at three different times. This research was carried out at the Morpoyan Seed Center and the Genetic and Breeding Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, UIN Suska Riau. Pollen viability testing used the staining method. Artificial cross-pollination between the Montong durian and the Sitokong durian was carried out reciprocally at three different times (11.00–13.00, 15.00–17.00, and 19.00–21.00). The total number of flowers crossed was 300. The results of this study showed that the percentage of pollen viability of Montong durian at 11.00–13.00, 15.00–17.00, and 19.00–21.00 was 94.91, 97.67, and 97.23%, respectively. While the pollen viability of Sitokong durian was 93.33% at 11.00–13.00, 94.45% at 15.00–17.00, and 94.76% at 19.00–21.00. The successful rate of crosses of durian Montong (♀) x Sitokong (♂) at 11.00–13.00, 15.00–17.00, and 19.00–21.00, respectively were 46, 26, and 34%, while the percentage of success of durian Sitokong crosses (♀) x Montong (♂) is 48% at 11.00–13.00, 54% at 15.00–17.00, and 22% at 19.00–21.00. Successful artificial cross-pollination between Montong and Sitokong durian or vice versa was higher at 11.00–13.00 compared to other times. The results of this study can be utilized to formulate the timing of artificial cross-pollination of durian in the future.

Sexual interference revealed by joint study of male and female pollination success in chestnut.

Most seed plants produce both pollen and ovules. In principle, pollen export could interfere with pollen import through self-pollination, resulting in ovule usurpation and reduced fruit set. Evidence for such interference exists under experimental settings but its importance under natural conditions is unknown. To test for sexual interference in nature, it is necessary to study together mating system, through paternity analyses, and fruit set, the proportion of flowers giving seeds or fruits. We developed a new model combining both processes, using chestnut (Castanea) as case study. We carried out a paternity analysis in an intensively studied plot of 273 trees belonging to three interfertile chestnut species and including a range of individuals with more or less functional stamens, resulting in a large data set of 1924 mating events. We then measured fruit set on 216 of these trees. Fruit set of male-fertile trees was much lower than that of male-sterile trees. Our process-based model shows that pollen is not limiting in the study site and hence cannot account for reduced fruit set. It also indicates that self-pollination is high (74%) but selfing rate is low (4%). Self-pollen is less competitive than cross-pollen, reducing sexual interference, but not sufficiently, as many ovules end up being self-fertilized, 95% of which abort before fruit formation, resulting in the loss of 46% of the fruit crop. These results suggest that the main cause of reduced reproductive potential in chestnut is sexual interference by self-pollen, raising questions on its evolutionary origins.

Impacts of soil nutrition on floral traits, pollinator attraction, and fitness in cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.)

Annual plants allocate soil nutrients to floral display and pollinator rewards to ensure pollination success in a single season. Nitrogen and phosphorus are critical soil nutrients whose levels are altered by intensive land use that may affect plants’ fitness via pollinator attractiveness through floral display and rewards. In a controlled greenhouse study, we studied in cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) how changes in soil nitrogen and phosphorus influence floral traits, including nectar and pollen reward composition. We evaluated how these traits affect bumble bee (Bombus impatiens, an important cucumber pollinator) visitation and ultimately fruit yield. While increasing nitrogen and phosphorus increased growth and floral display, excess nitrogen created an asymptotic or negative effect, which was mitigated by increasing phosphorus. Male floral traits exhibited higher plasticity in responses to changes in soil nutrients than female flowers. At 4:1 nitrogen:phosphorus ratios, male flowers presented increased nectar volume and pollen number resulting in increased bumble bee visitation. Interestingly, other pollinator rewards remained consistent across all soil treatments: male and female nectar sugar composition, female nectar volume, and pollen protein and lipid concentrations. Therefore, although cucumber pollination success was buffered in conditions of nutrient stress, highly skewed nitrogen:phosphorus soil ratios reduced plant fitness via reduced numbers of flowers and reward quantity, pollinator attraction, and ultimately yield.

The selective advantage of mast flowering in Veratrum album subsp. oxysepalum: Implications of the predator satiation hypothesis.

Synchronous, highly variable flower or seed production among years within a population (i.e., masting) has been reported in numerous perennial plants. Although masting provides ecological advantages such as enhancing pollination efficiency and/or escape from predator attack, little is known about the degree of these advantages and variations in masting behavior among populations of conspecific plants. We determined flowering ramet density and reproductive success (fruit-set success and herbivorous damage) of a perennial herb, Veratrum album subsp. oxysepalum, across six lowland and six alpine populations in northern Japan during 2-3 years. We then analyzed the relationship between floral density and reproductive success to assess the ecological significance of mast flowering. Flowering intervals of individual plants were estimated by counting annual scars on rhizomes. Most populations had mast flowering, but the intervals between flowering for individual plants were shorter in the alpine populations than in the lowland populations. Floral damage by stem borers (dipteran larvae) and seed predation by lepidopteran larvae were intense in the lowland populations. Seed production of individual ramets increased with higher floral density owing to the effective avoidance of floral-stem damage and seed predation. Although stem borers were absent in the alpine habitat, seed predation decreased with higher floral density also in the alpine populations. Pollination success was independent of floral density in both of the alpine and lowland populations. These results strongly support the predator satiation hypothesis for mast flowering by this species.

Reduced seed set under water deficit is driven mainly by reduced flower numbers and not by changes in flower visitations and pollination

Abstract Water deficit can alter floral traits with cascading effects on flower‐visitor interactions and plant fitness. Water stress induction can diminish productivity, directly resulting in lower flower production and consequently seed set. Changes in floral traits, such as floral scent or reward amount, may in turn alter pollinator visitations and behaviour and consequently can reduce pollination services resulting in lower reproduction output. However, the relative contribution of this indirect in comparison to the direct effects to changes in seed set are not fully understood. We manipulated water availability using rain‐out shelters in a field experiment and measured effects on floral scent bouquet, morphology, phenology, flower‐visitor interactions, pollination and seed set. Plant individuals of Sinapis arvensis (Brassicaceae) were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: mean precipitation (=control), reduced mean precipitation or drought period treatment. Our results show that decreasing water availability lowers the number of flowers and seed set. This indicates a direct link between water stress and seed set, as seed mass increases with increasing flower number. The indirect link of water stress via floral traits, pollinator visits and pollination has weaker effects on seed set. However, floral traits remain relatively stable under decreased water availability, whereas plant growth and flower abundance decrease, potentially in order to allow investment in more resources in fewer flowers to maintain pollination success. Thus, plants are able to compensate for water stress and can maintain floral trait expression, such as a stable scent emission and bouquet, to retain pollinator attraction. These findings indicate that the direct link from water stress to seed set has a stronger impact on plants reproductive success than the indirect link through altered floral trait expression and pollinator visits in a generalist plant species. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

By land and by tree: Pollinator taxa diversity of terrestrial and epiphytic orchids

There are approximately 30,000 species in the family Orchidaceae, with some species growing terrestrially and others growing as epiphytes. Though the pollination biology of many of these species is not well known, there has been a diversity of taxa recorded as orchid pollinators. Insects, birds, and even a record of a mammal species have been documented as successful pollinators, while some orchids are able to reproduce without the use of a pollen vector. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of orchid pollination tactics, with references to more specific studies of each, and to analyze a large subset of publications to determine differences in pollinator taxa and specificity between epiphytic and terrestrial orchid genera. This review examines pollination data from over 400 orchid species, including 74 epiphytic and 83 terrestrial orchid genera. Two pollinator taxa, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera (Class: Insecta), were found to pollinate significantly more terrestrial than epiphytic orchid genera, while other taxa showed no significant differences. Hymenoptera were the dominant taxa of pollinator in regards to the overall number of species recorded; however, based on species interaction webs that were built, the Lepidoptera (Class: Insecta) have stronger interactions with the orchid species they pollinate, suggesting a more specific relationship between the two.

Toward evidence-based decision support systems to optimize pollination and yields in highbush blueberry

Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) is a globally important fruit crop that depends on insect-mediated pollination to produce quality fruit and commercially viable yields. Pollination success in blueberry is complex and impacted by multiple interacting factors including flower density, bee diversity and abundance, and weather conditions. Other factors, including floral traits, bee traits, and economics also contribute to pollination success at the farm level but are less well understood. As blueberry production continues to expand globally, decision-aid technologies are needed to optimize and enhance the sustainability of pollination strategies. The objective of this review is to highlight our current knowledge about blueberry pollination, where current research efforts are focused, and where future research should be directed to successfully implement a comprehensive blueberry pollination decision-making framework for modern production systems. Important knowledge gaps remain, including how to integrate wild and managed pollinators to optimize pollination, and how to provide predictable and stable crop pollination across variable environmental conditions. In addition, continued advances in pesticide stewardship are required to optimize pollinator health and crop outcomes. Integration of on- and off-farm data, statistical models, and software tools could distill complex scientific information into decision-aid systems that support sustainable, evidence-based pollination decisions at the farm level. Utility of these tools will require multi-disciplinary research and strategic deployment through effective extension and information-sharing networks of growers, beekeepers, and extension/crop advisors.