A novel nursery pollination system between a mycoheterotrophic orchid and mushroom‐feeding flies

Suetsugu, Kenji

doi:10.1002/ecy.4152

Ecology

2023

DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4152

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A novel nursery pollination system between a mycoheterotrophic orchid and mushroom‐feeding flies

Kenji Suetsugu

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2024

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Cited by 3 publications

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References 22 publications

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“…However, the succulent appendix of some Arisaema species, such as Amaranthus thunbergii, may serve as a food source for pollinator larvae, leading to the possibility of nursery pollination (i.e., brood-site pollination). This idea is supported by observations in other plant species, such as Aspidistra longipetala (Asparagaceae) and Gastrodia foetida (Orchidaceae), in which decaying succulent floral tissues provide nourishment for larvae of their brood pollinators (Lin et al, 2022;Suetsugu, 2023).…”

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confidence: 55%

Back from the dead: A fungus gnat pollinator turns Arisaema lethal trap into nursery

Suetsugu,

Nishigaki,

Kakishima

et al. 2024

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact StatementThe research explores the complex interaction between flowering plants and their pollinators, specifically focusing on the genus Arisaema. Unlike most plants, Arisaema has a distinctive trait in which killing pollinators can be beneficial. Traditionally, this interaction has been viewed as highly antagonistic because it appears to favor the plants at the expense of the pollinators. However, new evidence reveals that a pollinator uses the lethal floral trap of Arisaema thunbergii as a nursery. Remarkably, some individuals probably even escape from the trap after laying eggs. This finding challenges the prevailing notion that deceptive pollination is the sole outcome in Arisaema, a genus known for its intricate lethal pollination mechanisms.Summary While many flowering plants engage in mutualistic relationships with their pollinators, flower‐insect interactions are not always mutually beneficial. Some plants exploit their pollinators by deceptively promising rewards without delivering them. Among such plants, the genus Arisaema (Araceae) is notable for its antagonistic behavior towards pollinators, as female plants invariably entrap them with lethal effects. Here we tested the hypothesis that the succulent appendix of some Arisaema species, such as Arisaema thunbergii, may serve as a food source for pollinator larvae, leading to the possibility of nursery pollination. To investigate this, we retrieved adult insect corpses trapped within the spathes of A. thunbergii. Subsequently, we incubated the spathes after collecting the corpses to determine if conspecific insects emerged from them. We present novel evidence that one of the main pollinating fungus gnats, Leia ishitanii, uses the lethal floral trap of A. thunbergii inflorescences as a nursery. Astonishingly, some L. ishitanii individuals may even succeed in escaping from the female spathe after depositing their eggs. These findings challenge the conventional understanding that deceptive pollination is the norm within the genus Arisaema. The interaction between A. thunbergii and L. ishitanii, in which a significant portion of female adults die inside but still reproduction seems successful, suggests an intermediate stage between brood‐site deception and nursery pollination mutualism.

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supporting

confidence: 55%

Back from the dead: A fungus gnat pollinator turns Arisaema lethal trap into nursery

Suetsugu,

Nishigaki,

Kakishima

et al. 2024

Plants People Planet

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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A novel nursery pollination system between a mycoheterotrophic orchid and mushroom‐feeding flies

Suetsugu

2023

Ecology

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Bee pollination in the shadows: The role of pseudopollen and agamospermy in the mycoheterotrophic orchid Gastrodia elata

Suetsugu,

Yamamoto

2024

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact StatementThe family Orchidaceae is renowned for its reliance on specialized pollinators and mycorrhizal symbioses. This study examined how the nonphotosynthetic orchid Gastrodia elata thrives on the dim forest floor, focusing on its pollination biology, particularly the chemical properties of pseudopollen and reproductive assurance mechanisms. It was found that G. elata mainly relies on Lasioglossum bees, attracted by its starch‐rich pseudopollen. Additionally, G. elata in the studied population can produce fruit through agamospermy (seeds from unfertilized ovules). Overall, the findings reveal that G. elata relies on fungi for nutrition and employs reproductive strategies such as mimicking pollen to attract bees and resorting to asexual reproduction when pollinators are scarce.Summary Mycoheterotrophy is an adaptation that allows survival in environments with low irradiance and minimal competition from autotrophic plants. However, such environments can negatively impact bee pollination, as most bees prefer open habitats. Despite this, the mycoheterotrophic orchid Gastrodia elata is known to rely on Lasioglossum bees for pollination. We investigated the reproductive biology of G. elata to understand how it overcomes pollinator limitation. Our research focused on the chemical composition and anatomical basis of G. elata pseudopollen (a substance that mimics pollen and may facilitate pollination), based on micromorphological and nutritional analyses, as well as observations of pollinator behavior. Additionally, we explored the potential presence of autogamy or agamospermy as mechanisms for reproductive assurance. The pseudopollen in G. elata originates from the disintegration of the adaxial parenchymatous tissue of the callus and is rich in starch. This contrasts with pseudopollen in most orchids, which typically originates from lip hairs and whose potential attractant is protein. Lasioglossum bees pollinating G. elata visit multiple flowers and actively collect pseudopollen. Furthermore, agamospermy serves as a reproductive safeguard in shaded habitats where insect‐mediated pollination is infrequent, at least in the investigated population. Our findings suggest that Gastrodia elata pseudopollen plays an important role in enhancing insect‐mediated pollination, particularly in relatively open habitats, while agamospermy ensures fruit set in shaded environments of the investigated population. Both pseudopollen production and agamospermy likely help overcome the pollination constraints posed by the mycoheterotrophic lifestyle.

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A novel nursery pollination system between a mycoheterotrophic orchid and mushroom‐feeding flies

Cited by 3 publications

References 22 publications

Back from the dead: A fungus gnat pollinator turns Arisaema lethal trap into nursery

Back from the dead: A fungus gnat pollinator turns Arisaema lethal trap into nursery

A novel nursery pollination system between a mycoheterotrophic orchid and mushroom‐feeding flies

Bee pollination in the shadows: The role of pseudopollen and agamospermy in the mycoheterotrophic orchid Gastrodia elata

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