| Title: | Natural selection on floral volatile production in Penstemon digitalis: highlighting the role of linalool |
| Author(s): | Parachnowitsch AL; Burdon RC; Raguso RA; Kessler A; |
| Address: | "Plant Ecology and Evolution; Evolutionary Biology Centre; Uppsala University; Uppsala, Sweden. Department of Neurobiology and Behavior; Cornell University; Ithaca, NY USA. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Cornell University; Ithaca, NY USA" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1559-2324 (Electronic) 1559-2316 (Print) 1559-2316 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Natural selection is thought to have shaped the evolution of floral scent; however, unlike other floral characters, we have a rudimentary knowledge of how phenotypic selection acts on scent. We found that floral scent was under stronger selection than corolla traits such as flower size and flower color in weakly scented Penstemon digitalis. Our results suggest that to understand evolution in floral phenotypes, including scent in floral selection, studies are crucial. For P. digitalis, linalool was the direct target of selection in the scent bouquet. Therefore, we determined the enantiomeric configuration of linalool because interacting insects may perceive the enantiomers differentially. We found that P. digitalis produces only (S)-(+)-linalool and, more interestingly, it is also taken up into the nectar. Because the nectar is scented and flavored with (S)-(+)-linalool, it may be an important cue for pollinators visiting P. digitalis flowers" |
| Keywords: | "Acyclic Monoterpenes *Biological Evolution Flowers/*metabolism Monoterpenes/*metabolism *Odorants Penstemon/*genetics/metabolism Phenotype Plant Nectar/metabolism *Pollination *Selection, Genetic Stereoisomerism Volatile Organic Compounds/metabolism Penst;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineParachnowitsch, Amy L Burdon, Rosalie C F Raguso, Robert A Kessler, Andre eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2012/12/12 Plant Signal Behav. 2013 Jan; 8(1):e22704. doi: 10.4161/psb.22704. Epub 2012 Dec 6" |
