| Title: | (Methylthio)phenol semiochemicals are exploited by deceptive orchids as sexual attractants for Campylothynnus thynnine wasps |
| Author(s): | Bohman B; Phillips RD; Flematti GR; Peakall R; |
| Address: | "School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia. Electronic address: bjorn.bohman@uwa.edu.au. Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia; Kings Park and Botanic Garden, The Botanic Gardens and Park Authority, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia; Department of Ecology, Environment & Evolution, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia. School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.fitote.2017.09.022 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1873-6971 (Electronic) 0367-326X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Until recently, (methylthio)phenols as natural products had only been reported from bacteria. Now, four representatives of this class of sulfurous aromatic compounds have been discovered as semiochemicals in the orchid Caladenia crebra, which secures pollination by sexual deception. In this case, field bioassays confirmed that a 10:1 blend of 2-(methylthio)benzene-1,4-diol (1) and 4-hydroxy-3-(methylthio)benzaldehyde (2) sexually attracts the male thynnine wasp Campylothynnus flavopictus (Tiphiidae:Thynnineae), the exclusive pollinator of C. crebra. Here we show with field bioassays that another undescribed species of Campylothynnus (sp. A) is strongly sexually attracted to a 1:1 blend of compounds 1 and 2, which elicits very high attempted copulation rates (88%). We also confirm that this Campylothynnus species is a pollinator of Caladenia attingens subsp. attingens. Chemical analysis of the flowers of this orchid revealed two (methylthio)phenols, compound 2 and 2-(methylthio)phenol (3), as candidate semiochemicals involved in pollinator attraction. Thus, (methylthio)phenols are likely to be more widely used than presently known. The confirmation of this Campylothynnus as a pollinator of C. attingens subsp. attingens at our study sites was unexpected, since elsewhere this orchid is pollinated by a different thynnine wasp (Thynnoides sp). In general, sexually deceptive Caladenia only use a single species of pollinator, and as such, this unusual case may offer a tractable study system for understanding the chemical basis of pollinator switching in sexually deceptive orchids" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Australia Flowers/*chemistry Male Orchidaceae/*chemistry Phenols/chemistry Pheromones/*chemistry *Pollination Sexual Behavior, Animal Wasps/*physiology (methylthio)phenols Caladenia Pollination Semiochemicals Sexual deception;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineBohman, Bjorn Phillips, Ryan D Flematti, Gavin R Peakall, Rod eng Netherlands 2017/10/03 Fitoterapia. 2018 Apr; 126:78-82. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2017.09.022. Epub 2017 Sep 28" |
