Scent glands on inflorescences of Ficus L. (Moraceae)

• Grant number: 12/01247-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2012
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Morphology
• Principal Investigator: Simone de Pádua Teixeira
• Grantee: Camila Devicaro de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The mutualistic interaction of pollinating wasps and fig trees (Ficus L., Moraceae) is currently one of the most known and studied. The newly emerged wasps from a fig tree carry pollen grains on their bodies and are attracted by the odor produced in the syconium (= inflorescence), during its receptive phase, of another tree. Upon entering the other tree's syconium through its aperture (ostiole), the wasps lay their eggs and also pollinate the open female flowers, starting a new life cycle. Due to the importance of odors emitted in reproductive isolation of sympatric species, the chemical composition of volatiles released by the syconium was investigated in many species of Ficus, but the site of production of these volatiles has not been identified yet. It is known that the scents released by flowers of several plant species may be produced and emitted in two ways: through diffuse production by common epidermal and parenchymal cells or specialized secretory tissues - osmophores - located in restricted areas of the flower. Thus, this study aims at localizing the fig's volatile synthesis site and comparing its morphology in nine Ficus' species (which represent nine sections) with different habits and reproductive systems. It is intended to infer if the scent glands are homologous on morphology and position. (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

SOUZA, CAMILA D.; PEREIRA, RODRIGO A. S.; MARINHO, CRISTINA R.; KJELLBERG, FINN; TEIXEIRA, SIMONE P.. Diversity of fig glands is associated with nursery mutualism in fig trees. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY, v. 102, n. 10, p. 1564-1577, OCT 2015. (12/01247-7, 13/21794-5, 14/07453-3)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SOUZA, Camila Devicaro de. Secretory structures in syconia of Ficus L. species (Moraceae). 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.