Pollination ecology of the Neotropical gesneriad Gloxinia perennis: chemical composition and temporal fluctuation of floral perfume

Abstract

Although common among orchids, pollination by perfume-gathering male euglossine bees is quite rare in other Neotropical families. In Gesneriaceae, for example, it is reported in two genera only, Drymonia and Gloxinia. Flowers of G. perennis are known to emit perfume, thereby attracting male euglossine bees as pollinators. However, detailed reports on the pollination ecology, as well as on chemistry of floral perfume of individuals in natural populations, are still missing. In this study, we report on the pollination ecology of G. perennis, focusing on the ecological significance of its floral perfume.• In natural populations in Peru, we documented the floral biology and breeding system of G. perennis, as well as its interaction with flower visitors. We also characterised the chemical composition of floral perfume, as well as its timing of emission.• Gloxinia perennis is self-compatible and natural pollination success is high. Spontaneous self-pollination occurs as a 'just in case strategy' when pollinators are scarce. Perfume-collecting males of Eulaema cingulata and El. meriana were identified as pollinators. The perfume bouquet of G. perennis consists of 16 compounds. (E)-Carvone epoxide (41%) and limonene (23%) are the major constituents. Perfume emission is higher at 09:00 h, matching the activity peak of Eulaema pollinators.• Flowers of G. perennis have evolved a mixed strategy to ensure pollination (i.e. selfand cross-pollination), but cross-pollination is favoured. The size and behaviour of Eulaema males enables only these bees to successfully cross-pollinate G. perennis. Furthermore, G. perennis floral perfume traits (i.e. chemistry and timing of emission) have evolved to optimise the attraction of these bees.Plant Biology 21 (2019) 723-731

Reproductive isolation among three sympatric Achimenes species: pre‐ and post‐pollination components

“…In contrast, visual cues and floral scents are common in bee‐pollinated species (Dobson, ). Interestingly, of the four scents in A. flava , 1,8‐cineole and α‐pinene are commonly found in flowers pollinated by male euglossine bees, and tetradecane is common in flowers pollinated by nectar‐seeking bees (Gerlach and Schill, ; Dobson, ; Martel et al ). In contrast, terpenoids such as 1,8‐cineole and limonene are apparently not well perceived by butterflies (Andersson and Dobson, ); thus, the function of limonene in flowers of A. patens needs to be further explored.…”

A Semivolatile Floral Scent Marks the Shift to a Novel Pollination System in Bromeliads

“…8 Perfume flowers have appeared independently in several Neotropical families under distinct evolutionary/ecological contexts. Similar to C. burle-marxii, it is also likely that the only case of pollination by male euglossine bees among Gesneriaceae, i.e., Gloxinia perennis, 53 has evolved in a clade having hummingbirds as ancestral pollinators. 54 More frequently, however, perfume flowers are derived from food-deceptive flowers pollinated by male and female euglossine and/or non-euglossine bees (Orchidaceae: Catasetinae, Zygopetalinae, and Stanhopeinae) 55,56 from resin-(Euphorbiaceae: Dalechampia) 57,58 and pollen-rewarding flowers (Solanaceae: Cyphomandra) 59,60 pollinated by female bees (usually from euglossine) or from beetle-pollinated species offering food and/or mating sites (Araceae: Anthurium and Spathiphyllum 61 and Annonaceae: Unonopsis 62,63 ).…”

Integrative approach resolves the taxonomy of Eulaema cingulata (Hymenoptera, Apidae), an important pollinator in the Neotropics

“…This species is frequently sampled in faunistic inventories (e.g. Pires et al 2013;Silveira et al 2015;Machado et al 2018) and reported in a wide range of ecological studies related to pollination in agroecosystems (Marques et al 2017;Gutiérrez-Chacón et al 2018), pollination of plants in Amazon rainforest (Martel et al 2019;Watteyn et al 2021), and as vectors of cleptoparasitic beetles (Rocha-Filho and Garófalo 2015).…”