| Title: | Nectar-inhabiting microorganisms influence nectar volatile composition and attractiveness to a generalist pollinator |
| Author(s): | Rering CC; Beck JJ; Hall GW; McCartney MM; Vannette RL; |
| Address: | "Chemistry Research Unit, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, 1700 SW 23rd Dr., Gainesville, FL, 32608, USA. Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA, 95616, USA. Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California, Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA, 95616, USA" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1469-8137 (Electronic) 0028-646X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The plant microbiome can influence plant phenotype in diverse ways, yet microbial contribution to plant volatile phenotype remains poorly understood. We examine the presence of fungi and bacteria in the nectar of a coflowering plant community, characterize the volatiles produced by common nectar microbes and examine their influence on pollinator preference. Nectar was sampled for the presence of nectar-inhabiting microbes. We characterized the headspace of four common fungi and bacteria in a nectar analog. We examined electrophysiological and behavioral responses of honey bees to microbial volatiles. Floral headspace samples collected in the field were surveyed for the presence of microbial volatiles. Microbes commonly inhabit floral nectar and the common species differ in volatile profiles. Honey bees detected most microbial volatiles tested and distinguished among solutions based on volatiles only. Floral headspace samples contained microbial-associated volatiles, with 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and 2-nonanone - both detected by bees - more often detected when fungi were abundant. Nectar-inhabiting microorganisms produce volatile compounds, which can differentially affect honey bee preference. The yeast Metschnikowia reukaufii produced distinctive compounds and was the most attractive of all microbes compared. The variable presence of microbes may provide volatile cues that influence plant-pollinator interactions" |
| Keywords: | Animals Bacteria/*metabolism Bees/*physiology Fungi/*metabolism Plant Nectar/*metabolism Pollination/*physiology Principal Component Analysis Volatile Organic Compounds/*metabolism Apis mellifera floral headspace microbial volatile (MVOC) nectar microbes; |
| Notes: | "MedlineRering, Caitlin C Beck, John J Hall, Griffin W McCartney, Mitchell M Vannette, Rachel L eng NE1501/USDA Multistate Hatch/International CA-D-ENM-2354-RR/USDA Multistate Hatch/International 0101-88888-016/USDA-ARS HQ/International 6036-22000-028/USDA-ARS/International Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. England 2017/09/30 New Phytol. 2018 Nov; 220(3):750-759. doi: 10.1111/nph.14809. Epub 2017 Sep 28" |
