| Title: | Pollinator attraction of the wasp-flower Scrophularia umbrosa (Scrophulariaceae) |
| Author(s): | Brodmann J; Emer D; Ayasse M; |
| Address: | "Institute of Experimental Ecology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany" |
| DOI: | 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2011.00525.x |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1438-8677 (Electronic) 1435-8603 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Certain species of Scrophularia (Scrophulariaceae), such as S. nodosa and S. umbrosa, are mainly pollinated by social wasps and are consequently described as wasp-flowers. Because plants attract their pollinators with the help of various floral cues, such as floral odour and/or optical cues, we have investigated the role of olfactory and visual floral signals responsible for wasp attraction in S. umbrosa. Using a combination of chemical (GC, GC-MS) and electrophysiological analyses (GC-EAD), we identified ten compounds in the complex floral odour bouquet that are detectable by the wasps' antennae. As in the wasp-flower Epipactis helleborine, we found so-called 'green leaf volatiles' (GLVs) in the floral odour; these GLVs are highly attractive to the wasps. GLVs, mostly six-carbon aldehydes, alcohols and acetates, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are emitted by many plants infested with herbivores, e.g. caterpillars. In contrast to other investigated wasp-flowers, behavioural experiments have demonstrated that, in addition to the floral odour of S. umbrosa, visual cues are involved in pollinator attraction" |
| Keywords: | Animals Flowers/*chemistry/growth & development Herbivory/drug effects Plant Leaves/chemistry Pollen/chemistry Pollination/physiology Scrophularia/*chemistry/growth & development Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis Wasps/*drug effects; |
| Notes: | "MedlineBrodmann, J Emer, D Ayasse, M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2011/12/23 Plant Biol (Stuttg). 2012 May; 14(3):500-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1438-8677.2011.00525.x. Epub 2011 Dec 20" |
