The Chemistry of Pollination in Selected Brazilian Maxillariinae Orchids: Floral Rewards and Fragrance

Flach, Adriana; Dondon, Régine; Singer, Rodrigo B.; Koehler, Samantha; Amaral, Maria do Carmo Estanislau do; Marsaioli, Anita J.

doi:10.1023/b:joec.0000028466.50392.ed

Cited by 53 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 4 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…By contrast, the secretory cells of fragrant B. lilacinum and B. tricorne contained larger, ovoid plastids with numerous plastoglobuli and larger starch grains, and SER was relatively abundant possibly indicating a greater capacity for the production of volatile oils (terpenoids). Plastids similar to those recorded here, as well as being present in the osmophores of fragrant orchids (e.g., Stern, 1983, 1985;Curry et al, 1991), are also known to occur in certain members of sub-tribes Maxillariinae (Davies et al, 2003;Davies and Stpiczyńska, 2009) and Oncidiinae , where they are considered to be involved in the production of lipidrich food-rewards; this material, once secreted onto the labellum, is gathered by insect pollinators (Braga, 1977;Flach et al, 2004) and possibly fed to their larvae. However, since elevated concentrations of lipid were not detected in the food-rewards of any of the subjects of the present paper, we propose that here, oil droplets probably exclusively represent droplets of fragrance.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 67%

Evidence for the Dual Role of Floral Secretory Cells in Bulbophyllum

Stpiczyńska

Davies

2016

Acta Biologica Cracoviensia S. Botanica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Floral epidermal cells of most species of Bulbophyllum Thouars studied to date produce both lipid-rich foodrewards and fragrance. Since fragrances largely consist of terpenoids and have an affinity for lipophilic stains, the simultaneous presence of lipid-rich food-rewards frustrates identification of fragrance-secreting cells by conventional histochemistry. Furthermore, since both lipid-rich food-rewards and fragrances are probably synthesized by a similar complement of organelles, interpretation of TEM images can prove difficult. All members of section Racemosae Benth. & Hook. f. investigated to date, however, are unusual in their secretion of a predominantly proteinaceous food-reward, and lipids are seemingly absent. This might enable their use as models for the identification and characterization of fragrance-secreting tissues and organelles. Three members of sect. Racemosae were chosen, namely Bulbophyllum dissitiflorum Seidenf., B. lilacinum Ridl. and B. tricorne Seidenf. & Smitinand. All produced food-rewards. Of these, one (B. dissitiflorum) lacked fragrance and was used as a control, whereas the remaining two species produced fragrance. Having established that the food-reward was mainly proteinaceous in each case, and did not test positively for lipid, we undertook further histochemical investigations, as well as light microscopy, SEM and TEM. Specialized palisade-like epidermal cells of all species contained protein bodies and rough endoplasmic reticulum consistent with the production and secretion of a protein-rich food-reward. Cuticular pores were also present. In fragrant species, these cells also contained abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum, oil droplets and many, well-developed, spherical plastids with numerous plastoglobuli, similar to those found in the osmophores (fragrance-producing structures) of other orchids. Indeterminate, osmiophilic cytoplasmic inclusions were also present. By contrast, the non-fragrant species lacked oil droplets and other osmiophilic inclusions and the plastids were scant, poorly developed, often elongate or irregular in shape and contained few plastoglobuli. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum was also less frequent. Since food-rewards tested negatively for lipid, it is probable that any oil droplets present were involved in fragrance production, especially since they were absent from the non-fragrant species. Thus, the unusual absence of lipids from the food-rewards of sect. Racemosae provided a rare opportunity, permitting, for the first time, the unraveling of these two secretory processes (food-reward and fragrance) in Bulbophyllum and clearly demonstrating the plasticity of these cells and their dual role in secretion.

show abstract

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 67%

Evidence for the Dual Role of Floral Secretory Cells in Bulbophyllum

Stpiczyńska

Davies

2016

Acta Biologica Cracoviensia S. Botanica

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…comm.). Such unusual pollination syndromes do exist in caespitose species as well (see Singer 2002, Singer & al. 2004, Kirchner 1922), but they could be interpreted as evidence for a derived position.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…2003). Singer & Koehler (2004) studied pollinaria and flower rewards in Brazilian Maxillariinae. Compared with our molecular data, there is mostly congruence within one clade, so the pollinarium types must have evolved several times independently.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Comparative molecular and morphological studies in selectedMaxillariinaeorchids

Dathe

Dietrich

2006

Willdenowia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…In contrast, some of the Mormolyca species transferred from the Rufescens complex have semi-open flowers with a labellum pad of short, glandular trichomes ( Fig. 1 A-C, E , K, L, N, O, Q, R), and exhibit a conspicuous diversity of pleasant floral scents (Christenson 2002;Flach et al 2004;pers. obs.).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular phylogenetics of <i>mormolyca</i> (orchidaceae: maxillariinae) based on combined molecular data sets

Arévalo

Cameron

2013

Lankesteriana

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ABstrAct. The Neotropical orchid genus Mormolyca Fenzl, as currently circumscribed, encompasses a diverse group of ca. 27species. Many of these were included traditionally in Maxillaria sect. Rufescens, when similarity of floral morphology was considered foremost in their classification rather than the evolutionary history of the taxa. In order to begin revising species delimitation and clarifying the evolution and biology of the genus, we present a phylogenetic hypothesis using sequence data from five plastid loci (rpoC1, matK gene and flanking trnK intron, atpB-rbcL intergenic spacer, and the 3' portion of ycf1) and the nuclear ribosomal internal and external transcribed spacers (ITS, ETS). Resulting trees using both Bayesian and parsimony inference are congruent with each other, and generally well resolved. Based on current level of sampling across Maxillariinae, these molecular data support the monophyly of Mormolyca and shed light on the interspecific phylogenetic patterns within the genus. These include an early divergent paraphyletic grade of Mormolyca species successively sister to a clade with at least two definable subclades within. The latter are characterized by two different flower morphologies that are likely related to their pollination systems. Although not all relationships within the genus are fully resolved or supported, these results offer a first glimpse into the phylogeny of a small group of epiphytic orchids characterized by an unusually high level of variable vegetative characters, floral fragrance profiles, and pollination systems.

show abstract

The Chemistry of Pollination in Selected Brazilian Maxillariinae Orchids: Floral Rewards and Fragrance

Cited by 53 publications

References 4 publications

Evidence for the Dual Role of Floral Secretory Cells in Bulbophyllum

Evidence for the Dual Role of Floral Secretory Cells in Bulbophyllum

Comparative molecular and morphological studies in selectedMaxillariinaeorchids

Molecular phylogenetics of <i>mormolyca</i> (orchidaceae: maxillariinae) based on combined molecular data sets

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About