| Title: | The Floral Signals of the Inconspicuous Orchid Malaxis monophyllos: How to Lure Small Pollinators in an Abundant Environment |
| Author(s): | Jermakowicz E; Lesniewska J; Stocki M; Naczk AM; Kostro-Ambroziak A; Pliszko A; |
| Address: | "Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland. Institute of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45E, 15-351 Bialystok, Poland. Department of Evolutionary Genetics and Biosystematics, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland. Laboratory of Insects Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Department of Genetic and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bialystok, Ciolkowskiego 1J, 15-245 Bialystok, Poland. Institute of Botany, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 3, 30-387 Krakow, Poland" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 2079-7737 (Print) 2079-7737 (Electronic) 2079-7737 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Many orchid species have evolved complex floral signals to ensure pollination efficiency. Here, the authors combined analyses of anatomical flower structure with analyses of the volatile composition and flower-visiting insects' behaviour, as well as characterised features that can attract pollinators of the inconspicuous orchid Malaxis monophyllos. During field observations, the authors found that only small Diptera (e.g., mosquitos, drosophilids, fungus gnats) visit and are interested in the flowers of M. monophyllos, which was reflected in the characterised flower features that combine well with the pollination system, which engages dipterans. Analyses of the M. monophyllos floral scent revealed substantial concentrations of aliphatic compounds, e.g., 1-octen-3-ol and 1-octanol, which condition the mushroom-like scent and a substantial fraction of alkanes, some of which have been previously described as sex mimicry and aggregation pheromones in orchids' deceptive systems. The labellum anatomical structure exhibits a highly diverse cell cuticle surface and pronounced metabolic and secretory activity of the epidermal and subepidermal cells from all parts of the labellum. Moreover, our study provides evidence for the subsequent decoys of M. monophyllos flowers, including visual signals, such as raphides located on the labellum margin and the rewarding ones connected with lipid secretion limited to the area behind the column. Taking an integrative approach to studying M. monophyllos pollination biology, the authors provide new insight into its previously vague pollination strategies and provide evidence for complex floral signal operation in luring potential pollinators. The synergistic effect of M. monophyllos flowers' volatile and visual signals, together with additional rewarding for nectar/fungus/microbe-feeding pollinators, requires further detailed investigation that will be invaluable in explaining the evolution of Diptera-specific pollination systems in orchids" |
| Keywords: | Gc-ms Sem Spme Tem flower anatomy structure visiting insects volatiles; |
| Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINEJermakowicz, Edyta Lesniewska, Joanna Stocki, Marcin Naczk, Aleksandra M Kostro-Ambroziak, Agata Pliszko, Artur eng Switzerland 2022/05/29 Biology (Basel). 2022 Apr 21; 11(5):640. doi: 10.3390/biology11050640" |
