| Title: | A Specific Blend of Drakolide and Hydroxymethylpyrazines: An Unusual Pollinator Sexual Attractant Used by the Endangered Orchid Drakaea micrantha |
| Author(s): | Bohman B; Tan MMY; Phillips RD; Scaffidi A; Sobolev AN; Moggach SA; Flematti GR; Peakall R; |
| Address: | "School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia. Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kings Park Science, 1 Kattidj Close, West Perth, WA, 6005, Australia. Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1521-3773 (Electronic) 1433-7851 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Bioactive natural products underpin the intriguing pollination strategy used by sexually deceptive orchids. These compounds, which mimic the sex pheromones of the female insect, are emitted in particular blends to lure male insect pollinators of specific species. By combining methods from field biology, analytical chemistry, electrophysiology, crystallography, and organic synthesis, we report that an undescribed beta-hydroxylactone, in combination with two specific hydroxymethylpyrazines, act as pollinator attractants in the rare hammer orchid Drakaea micrantha. This discovery represents an unusual case of chemically unrelated compounds being used together as a sexual attractant. Furthermore, this is the first example of the identification of pollinator attractants in an endangered orchid, enabling the use of chemistry in orchid conservation. Our synthetic blend is now available to be used in pollinator surveys to locate suitable sites for plant conservation translocations" |
| Keywords: | Orchidaceae/*chemistry Pheromones/chemistry Plants/*chemistry Pollination/*genetics drakolide natural products pollination semiochemicals sexual deception; |
| Notes: | "MedlineBohman, Bjorn Tan, Monica M Y Phillips, Ryan D Scaffidi, Adrian Sobolev, Alexandre N Moggach, Stephen A Flematti, Gavin R Peakall, Rod eng DE16101313/Australian Research Council/International DE15010720/Australian Research Council/International LP130100162/Australian Research Council/International DP16010288/Australian Research Council/International DP150102762/Australian Research Council/International Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Germany 2019/11/22 Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2020 Jan 13; 59(3):1124-1128. doi: 10.1002/anie.201911636. Epub 2019 Dec 12" |
