Microorganisms transported by ants induce changes in floral nectar composition of an ant‐pollinated plant

Vega, Clara de; Herrera, Carlos M.

doi:10.3732/ajb.1200626

Cited by 71 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…Nectar also can contain other sugars that are present in trace amounts, e.g., mannose, arabinose, xylose, maltose, melibiose and oligosaccharides such as raffinose, melezitose, stachyose and sorbitol (Nicolson and Thornburg 2007, and references therein). It is worth noting that nectar-dwelling microorganisms can significantly influence/modify nectar-sugar profiles (Canto and Herrera 2012;Vannette et al 2012;de Vega and Herrera 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nectaries and male-biased nectar production in protandrous flowers of a perennial umbellifer Angelica sylvestris L. (Apiaceae)

2014

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Nectar is the most common floral pollinator reward. In dichogamous species, floral nectar production rates can differ between sexual phases. We studied the structure of nectaries located on the stylopodium and nectar production in protandrous umbellifer Angelica sylvestris. Our study species produced nectar in both floral sexual phases. Nectar sugar concentration was low (on average 22 ± 11 %, mean ± SD) and the nectar hexose rich and composed of sucrose, glucose, fructose and a small amount of amino acids, including b-alanine, a non-protein amino acid. Although nectar composition and sugar concentration varied little between floral sexual phases, nectar production showed a threefold reduction during the stigma receptive period. This is in contrast to other studies of Apiaceae that have reported female-biased nectar production, but in the direction predicted by plant sexual selection theory, suggesting that in pollen-unlimited species, floral rewards mainly enhance male reproductive success. The structure of the nectary was similar at the two sexual stages investigated, and composed of a secretory epidermis and several layers of nectariferous and subsecretory parenchyma. The nectary cells were small, had large nuclei, numerous small vacuoles and dense, intensely staining cytoplasm with abundant endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and secretory vesicles. They contained abundant resin-like material that may potentially act as defence against microbes. Starch was rarely observed in the nectary cells, occurring predominantly at the female stage and mainly in guard and parenchyma cells in close proximity to stomata, and in subsecretory parenchyma. The main route of nectar release in A. sylvestris seems to be via modified stomata.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nectaries and male-biased nectar production in protandrous flowers of a perennial umbellifer Angelica sylvestris L. (Apiaceae)

2014

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“…However, floral nectar is not used exclusively by pollinators. Its composition makes it a favourable environment for the growth of micro-organisms, and it is exploited by floricolous yeasts that are vectored from flower to flower by floral visitors (Brysch-Herzberg, 2004;Herrera et al, 2008;Belisle et al, 2012;de Vega & Herrera, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metschnikowia drakensbergensis sp. nov. and Metschnikowia caudata sp. nov., endemic yeasts associated with Protea flowers in South Africa

Vega

Guzmán

Steenhuisen

et al. 2014

International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology

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In a taxonomic study of yeasts recovered from nectar of flowers and associated insects in South Africa, 11 strains were found to represent two novel species. Morphological and physiological characteristics and sequence analyses of the large-subunit rRNA gene D1/D2 region, as well as the actin, RNA polymerase II and elongation factor 2 genes, showed that the two novel species belonged to the genus Metschnikowia. Metschnikowia drakensbergensis sp. nov. (type strain EBD-CdVSA09-2T = CBS 13649T = NRRL Y-63721T; MycoBank no. MB809688; allotype EBD-CdVSA10-2A = CBS13650A = NRRL Y-63720A) was recovered from nectar of Protea roupelliae and the beetle Heterochelus sp. This species belongs to the large-spored Metschnikowia clade and is closely related to Metschnikowia proteae, with which mating reactions and single-spored asci were observed. Metschnikowia caudata sp. nov. (type strain EBD-CdVSA08-1T = CBS 13651T = NRRL Y-63722T; MycoBank no. MB809689; allotype EBD-CdVSA57-2A = CBS 13729A = NRRL Y-63723A) was isolated from nectar of Protea dracomontana, P. roupelliae and P. subvestita and a honeybee, and is a sister species to Candida hainanensis and Metschnikowia lopburiensis. Analyses of the four sequences demonstrated the existence of three separate phylotypes. Intraspecies matings led to the production of mature asci of unprecedented morphology, with a long, flexuous tail. A single ascospore was produced in all compatible crosses, regardless of sequence phylotype. The two species appear to be endemic to South Africa. The ecology and habitat specificity of these novel species are discussed in terms of host plant and insect host species.

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“…Because ants decrease visit duration, ants might actually promote higher floral visitor movement (Altshuler 1999;Philpott et al 2006), and facilitate microbial dispersal among flowers. Conversely, ants might influence microbial dispersal or survival directly, either by introducing particular microbial taxa (de Vega & Herrera 2013) or influencing microbial survival in nectar. For example, we observed ant visitation to flowers and nectar consumption through robbed flowers, suggesting that direct dispersal may occur.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ants can facilitate the dispersal of specific microbes (de Vega & Herrera 2013), including entomopathogenic fungi and fungi that parasitize rust in coffee systems (Philpott 2010;Vandermeer, Perfecto, & Philpott 2010;Jackson, Zemenick, & Huerta 2012) and yeast to floral nectar (de Vega & Herrera 2013). Aggressive ants also influence the abundance, diversity and composition of other insects that may vector microorganisms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The presence of aggressive ants is associated with fewer insect visits to and altered microbe communities in coffee flowers

Vannette

Bichier

Philpott

2017

Basic and Applied Ecology

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Microorganisms transported by ants induce changes in floral nectar composition of an ant‐pollinated plant

Cited by 71 publications

References 73 publications

Nectaries and male-biased nectar production in protandrous flowers of a perennial umbellifer Angelica sylvestris L. (Apiaceae)

Nectaries and male-biased nectar production in protandrous flowers of a perennial umbellifer Angelica sylvestris L. (Apiaceae)

Metschnikowia drakensbergensis sp. nov. and Metschnikowia caudata sp. nov., endemic yeasts associated with Protea flowers in South Africa

The presence of aggressive ants is associated with fewer insect visits to and altered microbe communities in coffee flowers

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