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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Two orchids, one scent? Floral volatiles of Catasetum cernuum and Gongora bufonia suggest convergent evolution to a unique pollination niche

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Author(s):
Nunes, Carlos E. P. [1] ; Gerlach, Guenter [2] ; Bandeira, Karen D. O. [3] ; Gobbo-Neto, Leonardo [3] ; Pansarin, Emerson R. [4] ; Sazima, Marlies [5]
Total Authors: 6
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Programa Posgrad Biol Vegetal, CP 6109, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil
[2] Bot Garden Munchen Nymphenburg, Menzinger Str 61, D-80638 Munich - Germany
[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, Av Do Cafe S-N, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Filosofia Ciencias & Letras, Dept Biol, BR-14040901 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil
[5] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Dept Biol Vegetal, CP 6109, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 5
Document type: Journal article
Source: FLORA; v. 232, p. 207-216, JUL 2017.
Web of Science Citations: 8
Abstract

Floral volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are important signals in plant-pollinator communication and thus subjected to olfactory-mediated selection. Occasionally, phylogenetically unrelated plant species will converge towards similar patterns of floral scent signalling to harness pollinators, representing a common adaptive pollination niche. Catasetum cernuum and Gongora bufonia, epiphytic orchids that are native to the Atlantic Forest of southeastern South America, are exclusively pollinated by male Eufriesea violacea orchid-bees; we hypothesised that the two species have converged towards similar floral scent compositions to effectively attract these particular fragrance-seeking floral visitors. The similarity of the chemical composition of floral scent samples obtained through headspace collection was tested using multiple approaches of multivariate analyses (Multiple Response Permutation Procedure-MRPP). According to MRPP, floral scents of C. cernuum and G. bufonia are significantly different. Additionally, the floral scents of C. cernuum and G. bufonia present (E)-beta-ocimene and (E)-epoxyocimene as their major compounds, respectively. (E)-beta-ocimene is a common constituent of floral scents from euglossine-pollinated orchids, while (E)-epoxyocimene is quite rare in orchids' floral scents and it is found in only a few other species which occur outside the distribution range of C. cernuum, G. bufonia and E. violacea. However, 12 out of the 34 identified VOCs, including (E)-beta-ocimeneand (E)-epoxyocimene, are shared between both species. Therefore, we assume that both (E)-beta -ocimeneand (E)-epoxyocimene, either alone or mixed with other floral VOCs, play a major role in the specific association between these two orchids and their exclusive euglossine pollinator. (C) 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 14/14969-6 - Evolution of floral traits of a neotropical genus pollinated by male Euglossine bees
Grantee:Emerson Ricardo Pansarin
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
FAPESP's process: 14/20436-0 - Metabolomics as a tool for chemotaxonomic analysis of the genus Catasetum (Orchidaceae)
Grantee:Karen Dayane de Oliveira Bandeira
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master