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Sokolowski MBC, Bottet G, Dacher M. Measuring honey bee feeding rhythms with the BeeBox, a platform for nectar foraging insects. Physiol Behav 2024; 283:114598. [PMID: 38821143 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
In honey bees, most studies of circadian rhythms involve a locomotion test performed in a small tube, a tunnel, or at the hive entrance. However, despite feeding playing an important role in honey bee health or fitness, no demonstration of circadian rhythm on feeding has been performed until recently. Here, we present the BeeBox, a new laboratory platform for bees based on the concept of the Skinner box, which dispenses discrete controlled amounts of food (sucrose syrup) following entrance into an artificial flower. We compared caged groups of bees in 12 h-12 h light/dark cycles, constant darkness and constant light and measured average hourly syrup consumption per living bee. Food intake was higher in constant light and lower in constant darkness; mortality increased in constant light. We observed rhythmic consumption with a period longer than 24 h; this is maintained in darkness without environmental cues, but is damped in the constant light condition. The BeeBox offers many new research perspectives and numerous potential applications in the study of nectar foraging animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guillaume Bottet
- Université de Picardie - Jules Verne, 1, rue des Louvels, 80000 Amiens, France
| | - Matthieu Dacher
- Sorbonne Université, INRAE, Université Paris Est Créteil, CNRS, IRD - Institute for Ecology and Environnemental Sciences of Paris, iEES Paris, 78026, Versailles, France
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2
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López-García CM, Ávila-Hernández CA, Quintana-Rodríguez E, Aguilar-Hernández V, Lozoya-Pérez NE, Rojas-Raya MA, Molina-Torres J, Araujo-León JA, Brito-Argáez L, González-Sánchez AA, Ramírez-Chávez E, Orona-Tamayo D. Extracellular Self- and Non-Self DNA Involved in Damage Recognition in the Mistletoe Parasitism of Mesquite Trees. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:457. [PMID: 38203628 PMCID: PMC10778891 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Psittacanthus calyculatus parasitizes mesquite trees through a specialized structure called a haustorium, which, in the intrusive process, can cause cellular damage in the host tree and release DAMPs, such as ATP, sugars, RNA, and DNA. These are highly conserved molecules that primarily function as signals that trigger and activate the defense responses. In the present study, we generate extracellular DNA (exDNA) from mesquite (P. laevigata) tree leaves (self-exDNA) and P. calyculatus (non-self exDNA) mistletoe as DAMP sources to examine mesquite trees' capacity to identify specific self or non-self exDNA. We determined that mesquite trees perceive self- and non-self exDNA with the synthesis of O2•-, H2O2, flavonoids, ROS-enzymes system, MAPKs activation, spatial concentrations of JA, SA, ABA, and CKs, and auxins. Our data indicate that self and non-self exDNA application differs in oxidative burst, JA signaling, MAPK gene expression, and scavenger systems. This is the first study to examine the molecular biochemistry effects in a host tree using exDNA sources derived from a mistletoe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Marina López-García
- Medio Ambiente y Biotecnología, Centro de Innovación Aplicada en Tecnologías Competitivas (CIATEC), León 37545, Guanajuato, Mexico; (C.M.L.-G.)
| | - César Alejandro Ávila-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato 36821, Guanajuato, Mexico; (C.A.Á.-H.); (M.A.R.-R.); (E.R.-C.)
| | - Elizabeth Quintana-Rodríguez
- Medio Ambiente y Biotecnología, Centro de Innovación Aplicada en Tecnologías Competitivas (CIATEC), León 37545, Guanajuato, Mexico; (C.M.L.-G.)
| | - Víctor Aguilar-Hernández
- Unidad de Biología Integrativa, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán (CICY), Mérida 97205, Yucatán, Mexico (J.A.A.-L.)
| | - Nancy Edith Lozoya-Pérez
- Medio Ambiente y Biotecnología, Centro de Innovación Aplicada en Tecnologías Competitivas (CIATEC), León 37545, Guanajuato, Mexico; (C.M.L.-G.)
| | - Mariana Atzhiry Rojas-Raya
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato 36821, Guanajuato, Mexico; (C.A.Á.-H.); (M.A.R.-R.); (E.R.-C.)
| | - Jorge Molina-Torres
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato 36821, Guanajuato, Mexico; (C.A.Á.-H.); (M.A.R.-R.); (E.R.-C.)
| | - Jesús Alfredo Araujo-León
- Unidad de Biología Integrativa, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán (CICY), Mérida 97205, Yucatán, Mexico (J.A.A.-L.)
| | - Ligia Brito-Argáez
- Unidad de Biología Integrativa, Centro de Investigación Científica de Yucatán (CICY), Mérida 97205, Yucatán, Mexico (J.A.A.-L.)
| | | | - Enrique Ramírez-Chávez
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados (CINVESTAV), Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato 36821, Guanajuato, Mexico; (C.A.Á.-H.); (M.A.R.-R.); (E.R.-C.)
| | - Domancar Orona-Tamayo
- Medio Ambiente y Biotecnología, Centro de Innovación Aplicada en Tecnologías Competitivas (CIATEC), León 37545, Guanajuato, Mexico; (C.M.L.-G.)
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Göttlinger T, Lohaus G. Origin and Function of Amino Acids in Nectar and Nectaries of Pitcairnia Species with Particular Emphasis on Alanine and Glutamine. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:23. [PMID: 38202331 PMCID: PMC10780904 DOI: 10.3390/plants13010023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Floral nectar contains sugars and numerous other compounds, including amino acids, but little is known about their function and origin in nectar. Therefore, the amino acid, sugar, and inorganic ion concentrations, as well as the activity of alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in nectar, nectaries, and leaves were analyzed in 30 Pitcairnia species. These data were compared with various floral traits, the pollinator type, and the phylogenetic relationships of the species to find possible causes for the high amino acid concentrations in the nectar of some species. The highest concentrations of amino acids (especially alanine) in nectar were found in species with reddish flowers. Furthermore, the concentration of amino acids in nectar and nectaries is determined through analyzing flower color/pollination type rather than phylogenetic relations. This study provides new insights into the origin of amino acids in nectar. The presence of almost all amino acids in nectar is mainly due to their transport in the phloem to the nectaries, with the exception of alanine, which is partially produced in nectaries. In addition, active regulatory mechanisms are required in nectaries that retain most of the amino acids and allow the selective secretion of specific amino acids, such as alanine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Göttlinger
- Molecular Plant Science and Plant Biochemistry, University of Wuppertal, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany;
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Aguilar-Venegas M, Quintana-Rodríguez E, Aguilar-Hernández V, López-García CM, Conejo-Dávila E, Brito-Argáez L, Loyola-Vargas VM, Vega-Arreguín J, Orona-Tamayo D. Protein Profiling of Psittacanthus calyculatus during Mesquite Infection. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:464. [PMID: 36771550 PMCID: PMC9920738 DOI: 10.3390/plants12030464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Psittacanthus calyculatus is a hemiparasite mistletoe that represents an ecological problem due to the impacts caused to various tree species of ecological and commercial interest. Although the life cycle for the Psittacanthus genus is well established in the literature, the development stages and molecular mechanism implicated in P. calyculatus host infection are poorly understood. In this study, we used a manageable infestation of P. laevigata with P. calyculatus to clearly trace the infection, which allowed us to describe five phenological infective stages of mistletoe on host tree branches: mature seed (T1), holdfast formation (T2), haustorium activation (T3), haustorium penetration (T4), and haustorium connection (T5) with the host tree. Proteomic analyses revealed proteins with a different accumulation and cellular processes in infective stages. Activities of the cell wall-degrading enzymes cellulase and β-1,4-glucosidase were primarily active in haustorium development (T3), while xylanase, endo-glucanase, and peptidase were highly active in the haustorium penetration (T4) and xylem connection (T5). Patterns of auxins and cytokinin showed spatial concentrations in infective stages and moreover were involved in haustorium development. These results are the first evidence of proteins, cell wall-degrading enzymes, and phytohormones that are involved in early infection for the Psittacanthus genus, and thus represent a general infection mechanism for other mistletoe species. These results could help to understand the molecular dialogue in the establishment of P. calyculatus parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montserrat Aguilar-Venegas
- Ciencias Agrogenómicas, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad León, UNAM, León CP 37684, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | | | - Víctor Aguilar-Hernández
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, CICY, A.C., Mérida CP 97205, Yucatán, Mexico
| | | | - Efraín Conejo-Dávila
- Unidad Profesional Interdisciplinaria de Ingeniería Campus Guanajuato, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Silao de la Victoria CP 36275, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Ligia Brito-Argáez
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, CICY, A.C., Mérida CP 97205, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Víctor M. Loyola-Vargas
- Unidad de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular de Plantas, CICY, A.C., Mérida CP 97205, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Julio Vega-Arreguín
- Ciencias Agrogenómicas, Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Unidad León, UNAM, León CP 37684, Guanajuato, Mexico
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Fenner ED, Scapini T, da Costa Diniz M, Giehl A, Treichel H, Álvarez-Pérez S, Alves SL. Nature's Most Fruitful Threesome: The Relationship between Yeasts, Insects, and Angiosperms. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:984. [PMID: 36294549 PMCID: PMC9605484 DOI: 10.3390/jof8100984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The importance of insects for angiosperm pollination is widely recognized. In fact, approximately 90% of all plant species benefit from animal-mediated pollination. However, only recently, a third part player in this story has been properly acknowledged. Microorganisms inhabiting floral nectar, among which yeasts have a prominent role, can ferment glucose, fructose, sucrose, and/or other carbon sources in this habitat. As a result of their metabolism, nectar yeasts produce diverse volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other valuable metabolites. Notably, some VOCs of yeast origin can influence insects' foraging behavior, e.g., by attracting them to flowers (although repelling effects have also been reported). Moreover, when insects feed on nectar, they also ingest yeast cells, which provide them with nutrients and protect them from pathogenic microorganisms. In return, insects serve yeasts as transportation and a safer habitat during winter when floral nectar is absent. From the plant's point of view, the result is flowers being pollinated. From humanity's perspective, this ecological relationship may also be highly profitable. Therefore, prospecting nectar-inhabiting yeasts for VOC production is of major biotechnological interest. Substances such as acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, and isobutanol have been reported in yeast volatomes, and they account for a global market of approximately USD 15 billion. In this scenario, the present review addresses the ecological, environmental, and biotechnological outlooks of this three-party mutualism, aiming to encourage researchers worldwide to dig into this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo D. Fenner
- Graduate Program in Environment and Sustainable Technologies, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Campus Cerro Largo, Cerro Largo 97900-000, RS, Brazil
- Laboratory of Yeast Biochemistry, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Campus Chapecó, Chapecó 89815-899, SC, Brazil
| | - Thamarys Scapini
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Bioprocesses, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Campus Erechim, Erechim 99700-970, RS, Brazil
| | - Mariana da Costa Diniz
- Laboratory of Yeast Biochemistry, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Campus Chapecó, Chapecó 89815-899, SC, Brazil
| | - Anderson Giehl
- Laboratory of Yeast Biochemistry, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Campus Chapecó, Chapecó 89815-899, SC, Brazil
| | - Helen Treichel
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Bioprocesses, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Campus Erechim, Erechim 99700-970, RS, Brazil
| | - Sergio Álvarez-Pérez
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sérgio L. Alves
- Graduate Program in Environment and Sustainable Technologies, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Campus Cerro Largo, Cerro Largo 97900-000, RS, Brazil
- Laboratory of Yeast Biochemistry, Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Campus Chapecó, Chapecó 89815-899, SC, Brazil
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Terry MI, Ruiz-Hernández V, Águila DJ, Weiss J, Egea-Cortines M. The Effect of Post-harvest Conditions in Narcissus sp. Cut Flowers Scent Profile. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 11:540821. [PMID: 33488635 PMCID: PMC7817618 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.540821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Narcissus flowers are used as cut flowers and to obtain high quality essential oils for the perfume industry. As a winter crop in the Mediterranean area, it flowers at temperatures ranging between 10 and 15°C during the day and 3-10°C during the night. Here we tested the impact of different light and temperature conditions on scent quality during post-harvest. These two types of thermoperiod and photoperiod. We also used constant darkness and constant temperatures. We found that under conditions of 12:12 Light Dark and 15-5°C, Narcissus emitted monoterpenes and phenylpropanoids. Increasing the temperature to 20°-10°C in a 12:12 LD cycle caused the loss of cinnamyl acetate and emission of indole. Under constant dark, there was a loss of scent complexity. Constant temperatures of 20°C caused a decrease of scent complexity that was more dramatic at 5°C, when the total number of compounds emitted decreased from thirteen to six. Distance analysis confirmed that 20°C constant temperature causes the most divergent scent profile. We found a set of four volatiles, benzyl acetate, eucalyptol, linalool, and ocimene that display a robust production under differing environmental conditions, while others were consistently dependent on light or thermoperiod. Scent emission changed significantly during the day and between different light and temperature treatments. Under a light:dark cycle and 15-5°C the maximum was detected during the light phase but this peak shifted toward night under 20-10°C. Moreover, under constant darkness the peak occurred at midnight and under constant temperature, at the end of night. Using Machine Learning we found that indole was the volatile with a highest ranking of discrimination followed by D-limonene. Our results indicate that light and temperature regimes play a critical role in scent quality. The richest scent profile is obtained by keeping flowers at 15°-5°C thermoperiod and a 12:12 Light Dark photoperiod.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta I. Terry
- Genética Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología Vegetal, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain
| | | | - Diego J. Águila
- Las Cabezuelas Sociedad Cooperativa, Alhama de Murcia, Spain
| | - Julia Weiss
- Genética Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología Vegetal, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain
| | - Marcos Egea-Cortines
- Genética Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología Vegetal, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Cartagena, Spain
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Göttlinger T, Lohaus G. Influence of light, dark, temperature and drought on metabolite and ion composition in nectar and nectaries of an epiphytic bromeliad species (Aechmea fasciata). PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2020; 22:781-793. [PMID: 32558085 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Research into the influence of stress factors, such as drought, different temperatures and/or varied light conditions, on plants due to climate changes is becoming increasingly important. Epiphytes, like many species of the Bromeliaceae, are particularly affected by this, but little is known about impacts on nectar composition and nectary metabolism. We investigated the influence of drought, different temperatures and light-dark regimes on nectar and nectaries of the epiphytic bromeliad species, Aechmea fasciata, and also the influence of drought with the terrestrial bromeliad, Billbergia nutans. The content of sugars, amino acids and ions in nectar and nectaries was analysed using HPLC. In addition, the starch content and the activities of different invertases in nectaries were determined. Compositions of nectar and nectaries were hardly influenced, neither by light nor dark, nor by different temperatures. In contrast, drought revealed changes in nectar volumes and nectar sugar compositions in the epiphytic bromeliad as well as in the terrestrial bromeliad. In both species, the sucrose-to-hexose ratio in nectar decreased considerably during the drought period. These changes in nectar sugar composition do not correlate with changes in the nectaries. The total sugar, amino acid and ion concentrations remained constant in nectar as well as in nectaries during the drought period. Changes in nectar composition or in the production of floral pollinator rewards are likely to affect plant-pollinator interactions. It remains questionable how far the adaptations of the bromeliads to drought and diverse light or temperature conditions are still sufficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Göttlinger
- Molecular Plant Science and Plant Biochemistry, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - G Lohaus
- Molecular Plant Science and Plant Biochemistry, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
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González-Rodríguez T, Cisneros-Hernández I, Acosta Bayona J, Ramírez-Chavez E, Martínez-Gallardo N, Mellado-Mojica E, López-Pérez MG, Molina-Torres J, Délano-Frier J. Identification of Factors Linked to Higher Water-Deficit Stress Tolerance in Amaranthus hypochondriacus Compared to Other Grain Amaranths and A. hybridus, Their Shared Ancestor. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 8:E239. [PMID: 31336665 PMCID: PMC6681232 DOI: 10.3390/plants8070239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Water deficit stress (WDS)-tolerance in grain amaranths (Amaranthus hypochondriacus, A. cruentus and A. caudatus), and A. hybridus, their presumed shared ancestor, was examined. A. hypochondriacus was the most WDS-tolerant species, a trait that correlated with an enhanced osmotic adjustment (OA), a stronger expression of abscisic acid (ABA) marker genes and a more robust sugar starvation response (SSR). Superior OA was supported by higher basal hexose (Hex) levels and high Hex/sucrose (Suc) ratios in A. hypochondriacus roots, which were further increased during WDS. This coincided with increased invertase, amylase and sucrose synthase activities and a strong depletion of the starch reserves in leaves and roots. The OA was complemented by the higher accumulation of proline, raffinose, and other probable raffinose-family oligosaccharides of unknown structure in leaves and/or roots. The latter coincided with a stronger expression of Galactinol synthase 1 and Raffinose synthase in leaves. Increased SnRK1 activity and expression levels of the class II AhTPS9 and AhTPS11 trehalose phosphate synthase genes, recognized as part of the SSR network in Arabidopsis, were induced in roots of stressed A. hypochondriacus. It is concluded that these physiological modifications improved WDS in A. hypochondriacus by raising its water use efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzitziki González-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 del Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Ismael Cisneros-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 del Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Jonathan Acosta Bayona
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 del Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Enrique Ramírez-Chavez
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 del Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Norma Martínez-Gallardo
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 del Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Erika Mellado-Mojica
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 del Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Mercedes G López-Pérez
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 del Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Jorge Molina-Torres
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 del Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - John Délano-Frier
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del I. P. N., Unidad Irapuato, Km 9.6 del Libramiento Norte Carretera Irapuato-León, C.P. 36821 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
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Göttlinger T, Schwerdtfeger M, Tiedge K, Lohaus G. What Do Nectarivorous Bats Like? Nectar Composition in Bromeliaceae With Special Emphasis on Bat-Pollinated Species. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:205. [PMID: 30847001 PMCID: PMC6393375 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Floral nectar is the most important reward for pollinators and an integral component of the pollination syndrome. Nectar research has mainly focused on sugars or amino acids, whereas more comprehensive studies on the nectar composition of closely related plant species with different pollination types are rather limited. Nectar composition as well as concentrations of sugars, amino acids, inorganic ions, and organic acids were analyzed for 147 species of Bromeliaceae. This plant family shows a high diversity in terms of floral morphology, flowering time, and predominant pollination types (trochilophilous, trochilophilous/entomophilous, psychophilous, sphingophilous, chiropterophilous). Based on the analyses, we examined the relationship between nectar traits and pollination type in this family. Nectar of all analyzed species contained high amounts of sugars with different proportions of glucose, fructose, and sucrose. The total concentrations of amino acids, inorganic cations, and anions, or organic acids were much lower. The analyses revealed that the sugar composition, the concentrations of inorganic cations and anions as well as the concentration of malate in nectar of bat-pollinated species differed significantly from nectar of species with other pollination types. Flowers of bat-pollinated species contained a higher volume of nectar, which results in a total of about 25-fold higher amounts of sugar in bat-pollinated species than in insect-pollinated species. This difference was even higher for amino acids, inorganic anions and cations, and organic acids (between 50 and 100-fold). In general, bat-pollinated plant species invest large amounts of organic and inorganic compounds for their pollinators. Furthermore, statistical analyses reveal that the characteristics of nectar in Bromeliaceae are more strongly determined by the pollinator type rather than by taxonomic groups or phylogenetic relations. However, a considerable part of the variance cannot be explained by either of the variables, which means that additional factors must be responsible for the differences in the nectar composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Göttlinger
- Molecular Plant Science and Plant Biochemistry, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Michael Schwerdtfeger
- Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kira Tiedge
- Molecular Plant Science and Plant Biochemistry, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Gertrud Lohaus
- Molecular Plant Science and Plant Biochemistry, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
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