Evolution of floral traits of a neotropical genus pollinated by male Euglossine bees

• Grant number: 14/14969-6
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: December 01, 2014 - November 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal researcher: Emerson Ricardo Pansarin
• Grantee: Emerson Ricardo Pansarin
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Assoc. researchers: Leonardo Gobbo Neto ; Ludmila Mickeliunas Pansarin

Abstract

The Neotropical region is the richest of the world. As occur in many plant families, among the orchids, many genera are endemic to the Neotropical region, including Catasetum L. C. Rich., with 147 species. There are over fifty years is known that the species of Catasetum are pollinated by male euglossine bees, which collect fragrances on flowers. However, data on anatomy and histochemical of floral glands are absent. Analyses on floral fragrances were previously performed for some species, but these data are scarce when compared to the diversity of this orchid genus. Furthermore, the floral characters and the fragrance compounds were never analyzed in an evolutionary context elsewhere. The objectives of this project are: to identify the secretory structures, the cells and tissues involved in the secretion, the floral reflectance patterns, besides to the volatile compounds of at least 60 species of Catasetum. Additionally, cpDNA and nrDNA regions will be analyzed in order to investigate the phylogeny of this plant group. The flower reflectance also will be studied with a spectrophotometer. The floral fragrances will be analyzed by GC-MS. The male and the female flowers of each species also will be investigated on basis on morpho-anatomical characters. Based on the obtained data will be analyzed as has been occurred the evolution of floral traits related to the pollinators (male euglossine) pollination mechanisms and floral fragrances in this genus. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PANSARIN, E. R.; BERGAMO, P. J.; FERREIRA-CALIMAN, M. J. Pollinator-independent orchid attracts biotic pollinators due the production of lipoidal substances. Plant Biology, v. 20, n. 2, p. 182-190, MAR 2018. Web of Science Citations: 2.

PANSARIN, E. R.; PANSARIN, L. M. Specificity and influence of climatic factors on the pollination of south-eastern Brazilian Sinningia. Australian Journal of Botany, v. 66, n. 6-7, p. 468-478, 2018. Web of Science Citations: 0.

NUNES, CARLOS E. P.; GERLACH, GUENTER; BANDEIRA, KAREN D. O.; GOBBO-NETO, LEONARDO; PANSARIN, EMERSON R.; SAZIMA, MARLIES. Two orchids, one scent? Floral volatiles of Catasetum cernuum and Gongora bufonia suggest convergent evolution to a unique pollination niche. FLORA, v. 232, p. 207-216, JUL 2017. Web of Science Citations: 8.

PANSARIN, E. R.; ALVES-DOS-SANTOS, I.; PANSARIN, L. M. Comparative reproductive biology and pollinator specificity among sympatric Gomesa (Orchidaceae: Oncidiinae). Plant Biology, v. 19, n. 2, p. 147-155, MAR 2017. Web of Science Citations: 5.

DE FRAGA, CLAUDIO NICOLETTI; COUTO, DAYVID RODRIGUES; PANSARIN, EMERSON RICARDO. Two new species of Vanilla (Orchidaceae) in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. PHYTOTAXA, v. 296, n. 1, p. 63-72, FEB 14 2017. Web of Science Citations: 3.

KRAHL, A. H.; KRAHL, D. R. P.; VALSKO, J. J.; WEBBER, A. C.; PANSARIN, E. R. Evidence of reward production and pollination by Centris in Encyclia (Orchidaceae: Laeliinae): the reproductive biology of Encyclia mapuerae. Australian Journal of Botany, v. 65, n. 3, p. 225-232, 2017. Web of Science Citations: 1.

PANSARIN, EMERSON R.; MACIEL, ARTUR A. Evolution of pollination systems involving edible trichomes in orchids. AOB PLANTS, v. 9, 2017. Web of Science Citations: 6.