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Nature

Title:		Sex-specific volatile compounds influence microarthropod-mediated fertilization of moss
Author(s):		Rosenstiel TN; Shortlidge EE; Melnychenko AN; Pankow JF; Eppley SM;
Address:		"Department of Biology and Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Portland State University, 1719 SW 10th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA"
Journal Title:		Nature
Year:		2012
Volume:		20120718
Issue:		7416
Page Number:		431 - 433
DOI:		10.1038/nature11330
ISSN/ISBN:		1476-4687 (Electronic) 0028-0836 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Sexual reproduction in non-vascular plants requires unicellular free-motile sperm to travel from male to female reproductive structures across the terrestrial landscape. Recent data suggest that microarthropods can disperse sperm in mosses. However, little is known about the chemical communication, if any, that is involved in this interaction or the relative importance of microarthropod dispersal compared to abiotic dispersal agents in mosses. Here we show that tissues of the cosmopolitan moss Ceratodon purpureus emit complex volatile scents, similar in chemical diversity to those described in pollination mutualisms between flowering plants and insects, that the chemical composition of C. purpureus volatiles are sex-specific, and that moss-dwelling microarthropods are differentially attracted to these sex-specific moss volatile cues. Furthermore, using experimental microcosms, we show that microarthropods significantly increase moss fertilization rates, even in the presence of water spray, highlighting the important role of microarthropod dispersal in contributing to moss mating success. Taken together, our results indicate the presence of a scent-based 'plant-pollinator-like' relationship that has evolved between two of Earth's most ancient terrestrial lineages, mosses and microarthropods"
Keywords:		Animals Arthropods/drug effects/*physiology Bryophyta/chemistry/metabolism/*physiology Cues Fertilization/drug effects/*physiology Odorants/*analysis Pollination/drug effects/*physiology Sex Characteristics Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism/pharmacol;
Notes:		"MedlineRosenstiel, Todd N Shortlidge, Erin E Melnychenko, Andrea N Pankow, James F Eppley, Sarah M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2012/07/20 Nature. 2012 Sep 20; 489(7416):431-3. doi: 10.1038/nature11330. Epub 2012 Jul 18"