Floral nectar production and carbohydrate composition and the structure of receptacular nectaries in the invasive plant Bunias orientalis L. (Brassicaceae)

Brassica juncea leaf cuticle contains xylose and mannose (xylomannan) which inhibit ice recrystallization on the leaf surface

MAIN CONCLUSION

Conjugated sugars showed antifreeze activity in the cuticle by ice recrystallization inhibition rather than thermal hysteresis, enhancing freezing capacity at the surface of B. juncea leaves. Antifreeze biomolecules play a crucial role in mitigating the physical damage from frost by controlling extracellular ice crystal growth in plants. Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) are reported from the apoplast of different plants. Interestingly, there is no report about antifreeze properties of the cuticle. Here, we report the potential antifreeze activity in the Brassica juncea (BJ) leaf cuticle. Nano LC-MS/MS analysis of a cuticle protein enriched fraction (CPE) predicted over 30 putative AFPs using CryoProtect server and literature survey. Ice crystal morphology (ICM) and ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) analysis of ABC supernatant showed heat and pronase-resistant, non-protein antifreeze activities as well as hexagonal ice crystals with TH of 0.17 °C and IRI 46%. The ZipTip processed ABC supernatant (without peptides) had no effect on TH activity, confirming a non-protein antifreeze molecule contributing to activity. To understand the origin and to confirm the source of antifreeze activity, cuticular membranes were isolated by pectinase and cellulase hydrolysis. FTIR analysis of the intact cuticle showed xylose, mannose, cellulose, and glucose. Xylanase and cellulase treatments of the ZipTip processed ABC supernatant led to an increase in sugar content and 50% loss in antifreeze activity. UV spectroscopy and NMR analysis supported the finding of FTIR and enzyme hydrolysis suggesting the contribution of xylose and mannose to antifreeze activity. By TLC analysis, conjugated sugars were found in the cuticle. This work has opened up a new research area where the antifreeze capacity needs to be established with regard to complete characterization and mechanism of action of the antifreeze carbohydrates (conjugated sugars) on the leaf surface.

Habitat heterogeneity helps to mitigate pollinator nectar sugar deficit and discontinuity in an agricultural landscape

The scarcity of floral resources and their seasonal discontinuity are considered as major factors for pollinator decline in intensified agricultural landscapes worldwide. The consequences are detrimental for the stability of the environment and ecosystems. Here, we quantified the production of nectar sugars in plant species occurring in man-made, non-cropped areas (non-forest woody vegetation, road verges, railway embankments, field margins, fallow areas) of an agricultural landscape in SE Poland. We also assessed changes in the availability of sugar resources both in space (habitat and landscape scales) and in time (throughout the flowering season), and checked to what extent the sugar demands of honeybees and bumblebees are met at the landscape scale. At landscape-level, 37.6% of the available sugar resources are produced in man-made, non-cropped habitats, while 32.6% and 15.0% of sugars derive from winter rape crops and forest vegetation, respectively. Nectar sugar supplies vary greatly between man-made, non-cropped habitat types/sub-types. These areas are characterized by a high richness of nectar-producing species. However, a predominant role in total sugar resources is ascribable to a few species. Strong fluctuations in nectar resources are recorded throughout the flowering season. March and June are periods with food shortages. Abundant nectar sugars are generally found in April-May, mainly due to the mass flowering of nectar-yielding species in the forests, meadows/pastures and orchards/rapeseed crops. Heterogeneity of man-made, non-cropped habitats is essential to support the supply of July-October nectar sugars for honeybees and bumblebees. Reduced flowering in man-made non-cropped habitats can generate serious food deficiencies, as from summer towards the end of the flowering season >90% of sugars are provided by the flora of these areas. Therefore, highly nectar-yielding plant species that flower during periods of expected food shortages should be a priority for conservation and restoration programs.

A cell wall invertase controls nectar volume and sugar composition

Nectar volume and sugar composition are key determinants of the strength of plant-pollinator mutualisms. The main nectar sugars are sucrose, glucose and fructose, which can vary widely in ratio and concentration across species. Brassica spp. produce a hexose-dominant nectar (high in the monosaccharides glucose and fructose) with very low levels of the disaccharide sucrose. Cell wall invertases (CWINVs) catalyze the irreversible hydrolysis of sucrose into glucose and fructose in the apoplast. We found that BrCWINV4A is highly expressed in the nectaries of Brassica rapa. Moreover, a brcwinv4a null mutant: (i) has greatly reduced CWINV activity in the nectaries; (ii) produces a sucrose-rich nectar; but (iii) with significantly less volume. These results definitively demonstrate that CWINV activity is not only essential for the production of a hexose-rich nectar, but also support a hypothetical model of nectar secretion in which its hydrolase activity is required for maintaining a high intracellular-to-extracellular sucrose ratio that facilitates the continuous export of sucrose into the nectary apoplast. The extracellular hydrolysis of each sucrose into two hexoses by BrCWINV4A also likely creates the osmotic potential required for nectar droplet formation. These results cumulatively indicate that modulation of CWINV activity can at least partially account for naturally occurring differences in nectar volume and sugar composition. Finally, honeybees prefer nectars with some sucrose, but wild-type B. rapa flowers were much more heavily visited than flowers of brcwinv4a, suggesting that the potentially attractive sucrose-rich nectar of brcwinv4a could not compensate for its low volume.

Structure of floral nectaries and female-biased nectar production in protandrous species Geranium macrorrhizum and Geranium phaeum

Nectar is a major floral reward offered to pollinators by plants. In dichogamous plant species, differences in nectar production across sexual phases often occur, but both the male- and female-phase flowers have to attract pollinators to achieve effective pollination. Nectar-producing structures, i.e. floral nectaries, are a key component of floral organisation and architecture, and the knowledge of their structure and function contributes to better understanding of the plant-pollinator interactions. In the present study, we investigated the morphology and structure of nectaries and the nectar production pattern in two protandrous species Geranium macrorrhizum and G. phaeum. The flowers of the studied species have been shown to exhibit varied availability of nectar for insect visitors. Their nectaries differ in the shape, size and thickness. The other differences include the localisation of the stomatal field, the size and number of nectarostomata, the presence of non-glandular and glandular trichomes, the presence of tannin idioblasts, the mode of secretion and the occurrence of plastids functioning probably as autophagosomes and autolysosomes, whose presence in nectary cells has been described for the first time. The flowers of the studied species started nectar secretion in the non-receptive phase before pollen presentation and nectar was produced throughout both sexual phases. The nectar production was gender biased towards the female phase in the nectar amount, nectar sugar concentration and total sugar secreted in the nectar. We postulate that the nectar production patterns in G. phaeum and G. macrorrhizum might have evolved as a response to pollinators' pressure.

Anti-aphrodisiac pheromone, a renewable signal in adult butterflies

The male butterfly Pieris napi produces the anti-aphrodisiac pheromone methyl salicylate (MeS) and transfers it to the female during mating. After mating she releases MeS, when courted by conspecific males, which decreases her attractiveness and the duration of male harassment, thus increasing her time available for egg-laying. In previous studies we have shown that males produced MeS from the amino acid L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) acquired during larval stage. In this study we show that adult males of P. napi can utilize L-Phe and aromatic flower volatiles as building blocks for production of anti-aphrodisiac pheromone and transfer it to females during mating. We demonstrate this by feeding butterflies with stable isotope labelled molecules mixed in sugar solutions, and, to mimic the natural conditions, we fed male butterflies with floral nectar of Bunias orientalis plants treated with labelled L-Phe. The volatiles from butterflies and plants were collected and identified by solid phase micro extraction, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. Since P. napi is polygamous, males would gain from restoring the titre of MeS after mating and the use of aromatic precursors for production of MeS could be considered as an advantageous trait which could enable butterflies to relocate L-Phe for other needs.

The morphology and activity of the extrafloral nectaries in Reynoutria × bohemica (Polygonaceae)

Reynoutria × bohemica is an invasive species causing significant damage to native ecosystems in North America and Europe. In this work, we performed an in-depth micromorphological characterisation of the extrafloral nectaries (EFN), during their secretory and post-secretory phases, in combination with field monitoring of nectary activity over time and the qualitative pool of insect visitors. EFN consist of secretory trichomes and vascularised parenchyma. Polysaccharides, lipids and proteins were histochemically detected in all trichome cells; phenolic substances were detected in parenchyma cells. Our data indicate that all nectary regions are involved in nectar production and release, constituting a functional unit. Moreover, the main compound classes of nectar and their transfer change over time: first, granulocrine secretion for sugars prevails, then eccrine secretion of the lipophilic fraction takes place. Active nectaries are mainly located in the apical portion of the stem during the growth phase (April-May), when we detected the highest number of individuals visited by ants; from mid-August onwards, during flowering, the number of active nectaries declined then ceased production (September), with a concomitant decrease in visits by the ants. The spectrum of nectar-foraging ants mainly included representatives of the genera Formica, Lasius and Camponotus. Reynoutria × bohemica produces an attractive secretion able to recruit local ants that may potentially act as 'bodyguards' for protecting young shoots, reducing secretions during the blooming stage. This defence mechanism against herbivores is the same as that displayed by the parental species in its native areas.

Micromorphological and histochemical attributes of flowers and floral reward in Linaria vulgaris (Plantaginaceae)

The self-incompatible flowers of Linaria vulgaris have developed a range of mechanisms for attraction of insect visitors/pollinators and deterrence of ineffective pollinators and herbivores. These adaptive traits include the flower size and symmetry, the presence of a spur as a "secondary nectar presenter," olfactory (secondary metabolites) and sensual (scent, flower color, nectar guide-contrasting palate) signals, and floral rewards, i.e. pollen and nectar. Histochemical tests revealed that the floral glandular trichomes produced essential oils and flavonoids, and pollen grains contained flavonoids, terpenoids, and steroids, which play a role of olfactory attractants/repellents. The nectary gland is disc-shaped and located at the base of the ovary. Nectar is secreted through numerous modified stomata. Nectar secretion began in the bud stage and lasted to the end of anthesis. The amount of produced nectar depended on the flower age and ranged from 0.21 to 3.95 mg/flower (mean = 1.51 mg). The concentration of sugars in the nectar reached up to 57.0%. Both the nectar amount and sugar concentration demonstrated a significant year and population effect. Pollen production was variable between the years of the study. On average, a single flower of L. vulgaris produced 0.31 mg of pollen. The spectrum of insect visitors in the flowers of L. vulgaris differed significantly between populations. In the urban site, Bombus terrestris and Apis mellifera were the most common visitors, while a considerable number of visits of wasps and syrphid flies were noted in the rural site.

A review of the methods for storing floral nectars in the field

The knowledge of floral nectar sugar characteristics, such as concentration, ratio and mass, is essential to understand the complex nature of nectar production and pollination systems. Although nectar is commonly stored in ecology, storage reliability and effectiveness have rarely been quantified. Inappropriate nectar storage between sampling and analysis can alter nectar chemistry as a result of enzyme or microbial action. Our review of the literature indicates that measures to preserve nectar sugars before analysis include refrigeration, freezing, the addition of an antimicrobial agent, spotting and drying on filter paper, the addition of a desiccant or a combination of these storage treatments. Nectar stored on filter paper is removed by washing with a solvent before analysis. Elution methods are often complex, not standardised and poorly reported in published work. Existing storage methods have generally been used without an evaluation of their impact on results, but evidence suggests a potentially large impact on result accuracy. Future studies should report storage treatments and elution methods to legitimise comparison among independent studies and provide unbiased evaluation of the results. In view of the wide range of storage methods used and lack of verification of their appropriateness, is imperative that standardised and effective methods be developed to ensure that results are reliable. We recommend the prompt analysis of nectar, detailed description of methods, including size of filter paper and method of elution, and use of sterile techniques.

Comparative micromorphology and anatomy of flowers and floral secretory structures in two Viburnum species

In entomogamous plants, the presence and function of floral secretory structures, whose main role is to attract pollinators, is strictly associated with the pollination ecology and hence the reproductive success of the plant. The aims of the present paper were to analyse the micromorphology and anatomy of flower nectaries and stigmas in Viburnum opulus and V. lantana and to determine the function and microstructure of inflorescence trichomes in both taxa using light and scanning electron microscopy as well as histochemical assays. It was found that stigmas were formed by papillae, which contained lipids, polysaccharides, tannins, and pigments. Stigmatic secretion proceeded via cuticular pores. Floral nectaries formed a thick layer around the styles, and nectar was secreted through numerous nectarostomata. There were no traces of vascular bundles penetrating the nectary tissue. In turn, numerous tannin deposits were observed in the cells of the glandular parenchyma. Pedicels, hypanthia, and bracts had mainly peltate and capitate glandular trichomes as well as stellate non-glandular trichomes (in V. lantana). The trichomes were shown to contain lipids, mucilage, and tannins. Many similarities in the flower and nectaries microstructure and considerable heterogeneity were observed in the examined Viburnum species. Knowledge of the microstructural characteristics of flowers, nectaries, and trichomes may be important for the phylogenesis and taxonomy of the genus Viburnum and the family Adoxaceae. Additionally, floral and nectaries features are helpful in assessment of the relatedness between taxa and provide better understanding of the floral biology and pollination ecology.

Intraspecific Variability of Floral Nectar Volume and Composition in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera)

Numerous angiosperms rely on pollinators to ensure efficient flower fertilization, offering a reward consisting of nourishing nectars produced by specialized floral cells, known as nectaries. Nectar components are believed to derive from phloem sap that is enzymatically processed and transformed within nectaries. An increasing body of evidence suggests that nectar composition, mainly amino acids, may influence pollinator attraction and fidelity. This notwithstanding, little is known about the range of natural variability in nectar content for crop species. Sugar and amino acid composition of nectar harvested from field-grown plants at the 63-65 phenological stage was determined for a set of 44 winter genotypes of rapeseed, a bee-pollinated crop. Significant differences were found for solute concentrations, and an even higher variability was evident for nectar volumes, resulting in striking differences when results were expressed on a single flower basis. The comparison of nectar and phloem sap from a subset of eight varieties pointed out qualitative and quantitative diversities with respect to both sugars and amino acids. Notably, amino acid concentration in phloem sap was up to 100 times higher than in nectar. Phloem sap showed a much more uniform composition, suggesting that nectar variability depends mainly on nectary metabolism. A better understanding of the basis of nectar production would allow an improvement of seed set efficiency, as well as hive management and honey production.