Investigation of pollen release by poricidal anthers using mathematical billiards

Author(s)

Hansen, Matheus ^[1] ; Lanes, Gabriel C. ^[2] ; Brito, Vinicius L. G. ^[2] ; Leonel, Edson D. ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencia Tecnol, BR-12247014 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Biol, BR-38405320 Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Paulista, Dept Fis, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Physical Review E; v. 104, n. 3 SEP 13 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Buzz pollination is described using a mathematical model considering a billiard approach. Applications to a rough morphology of a typical poricidal anther of a tomato flower (Solanum lycopersicum) experiencing vibrations applied by a bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) are made. The anther is described by a rectangular billiard with a pore on its tip while the borders are perturbed by specific oscillations according to the vibrational properties of the bumblebee. Pollen grains are considered as noninteracting particles that can escape through the pore. Our results not only recover some observed data but also provide a possible answer to an open problem involving buzz pollination. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/14038-6 - Investigation of dynamical properties in nonlinear systems
• Grantee: Edson Denis Leonel
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/09150-1 - Effect of time delay and plasticity in neuronal synchronization
• Grantee: Matheus Hansen Francisco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral