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Plants
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Ecology and Evolution of Floral Scent
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Ecology and Evolution of Floral Scent

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2021) | Viewed by 20984

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Stefan Dötterl

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biosciences, Paris-Lodron-University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Interests: ecology and evolution of floral scent and plant–pollinator interactions
Dr. Guaraci Duran Cordeiro

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biosciences, Paris-Lodron-University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
Interests: ecology; agriculture; plant-pollinator communication; chemical ecology; sensory systems of insects; pollination ecology; crop pollination; pollinator biology; climate change

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Floral scent is a key communication channel in interactions between flowers and various other organisms, among them microorganisms, animals, and plants. It is involved in mutualistic (e.g., pollination) and antagonistic (e.g., herbivory) interactions, and thus, an important aspect in floral ecology, evolution, and plant diversification. In recent years, these fields of research have attracted the attention of increased numbers of organismic- and molecular-oriented researchers. They gave achieved major advances in our understanding of the identity and the biosynthesis of scent components, and on their importance in eliciting physiological and behavioral responses in plants’ interaction partners. Just recently, effects of evolutionary processes (e.g., selection) on floral scent emissions were reported. These achievements were possible due to methodological advances in chemical analytics, and in experimental, physiological, genetic, genomic, and statistical approaches. Ongoing developments in these methods will allow further advances in ecological and evolutionary research on floral scents. This Special Issue on “Ecology and Evolution of Floral Scent” in Plants welcomes Original Papers as well as Reviews on flower volatiles, specifically, but not exclusively on:

  • Biosynthesis, emission, and diversity of floral scent
  • Environmental and anthropogenic effects on floral scent emissions
  • Genomic studies on floral scents
  • Evolutionary patterns in scent emissions
  • Sensing of floral scents by plants and other organisms
  • Identification of bioactive compounds
  • Organismic interactions mediated by floral scents

Prof. Dr. Stefan Dötterl
Dr. Guaraci Duran Cordeiro
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • abiotic effects on floral scents
  • chemical communication
  • floral evolution
  • floral volatiles
  • florivory
  • herbivory
  • microorganisms
  • multitrophic interactions
  • olfactory receptors
  • plant physiology
  • pollination
  • scent genes

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 1318 KiB  
Article
Three Chemically Distinct Floral Ecotypes in Drakaea livida, an Orchid Pollinated by Sexual Deception of Thynnine Wasps
by Alyssa M. Weinstein, Björn Bohman, Gavin R. Flematti and Ryan D. Phillips
Plants 2022, 11(3), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030260 - 19 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3025
Abstract
Sexually deceptive orchids are unusual among plants in that closely related species typically attract different pollinator species using contrasting blends of floral volatiles. Therefore, intraspecific variation in pollinator attraction may also be underpinned by differences in floral volatiles. Here, we tested for the [...] Read more.
Sexually deceptive orchids are unusual among plants in that closely related species typically attract different pollinator species using contrasting blends of floral volatiles. Therefore, intraspecific variation in pollinator attraction may also be underpinned by differences in floral volatiles. Here, we tested for the presence of floral ecotypes in the sexually deceptive orchid Drakaea livida and investigated if the geographic range of floral ecotypes corresponded to variation in pollinator availability. Pollinator choice trials revealed the presence of three floral ecotypes within D. livida that each attracts a different species of thynnine wasp as a pollinator. Surveys of pollinator distribution revealed that the distribution of one of the ecotypes was strongly correlated with that of its pollinator, while another pollinator species was present throughout the range of all three ecotypes, demonstrating that pollinator availability does not always correlate with ecotype distribution. Floral ecotypes differed in chemical volatile composition, with a high degree of separation evident in principal coordinate analysis. Some compounds that differed between ecotypes, including pyrazines and (methylthio)phenols, are known to be electrophysiologically active in thynnine wasp antennae. Based on differences in pollinator response and floral volatile profile, the ecotypes represent distinct entities and should be treated as such in conservation management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Evolution of Floral Scent)
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13 pages, 1139 KiB  
Article
Fly Pollination of Kettle Trap Flowers of Riocreuxia torulosa (Ceropegieae-Anisotominae): A Generalized System of Floral Deception
by Annemarie Heiduk, Ulrich Meve, Frank Menzel, Jean-Paul Haenni, Michael von Tschirnhaus, Stefan Dötterl and Steven D. Johnson
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1564; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081564 - 29 Jul 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3975
Abstract
Elaborated kettle trap flowers to temporarily detain pollinators evolved independently in several angiosperm lineages. Intensive research on species of Aristolochia and Ceropegia recently illuminated how these specialized trap flowers attract particular pollinators through chemical deception. Morphologically similar trap flowers evolved in Riocreuxia; [...] Read more.
Elaborated kettle trap flowers to temporarily detain pollinators evolved independently in several angiosperm lineages. Intensive research on species of Aristolochia and Ceropegia recently illuminated how these specialized trap flowers attract particular pollinators through chemical deception. Morphologically similar trap flowers evolved in Riocreuxia; however, no data about floral rewards, pollinators, and chemical ecology were available for this plant group. Here we provide data on pollination ecology and floral chemistry of R. torulosa. Specifically, we determined flower visitors and pollinators, assessed pollen transfer efficiency, and analysed floral scent chemistry. R. torulosa flowers are myiophilous and predominantly pollinated by Nematocera. Pollinating Diptera included, in order of decreasing abundance, male and female Sciaridae, Ceratopogonidae, Scatopsidae, Chloropidae, and Phoridae. Approximately 16% of pollen removed from flowers was successfully exported to conspecific stigmas. The flowers emitted mainly ubiquitous terpenoids, most abundantly linalool, furanoid (Z)-linalool oxide, and (E)-β-ocimene—compounds typical of rewarding flowers and fruits. R. torulosa can be considered to use generalized food (and possibly also brood-site) deception to lure small nematocerous Diptera into their flowers. These results suggest that R. torulosa has a less specific pollination system than previously reported for other kettle trap flowers but is nevertheless specialized at the level of Diptera suborder Nematocera. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Evolution of Floral Scent)
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22 pages, 1646 KiB  
Article
Floral Scent Evolution in the Genus Jaborosa (Solanaceae): Influence of Ecological and Environmental Factors
by Marcela Moré, Florencia Soteras, Ana C. Ibañez, Stefan Dötterl, Andrea A. Cocucci and Robert A. Raguso
Plants 2021, 10(8), 1512; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081512 - 23 Jul 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4331
Abstract
Floral scent is a key communication channel between plants and pollinators. However, the contributions of environment and phylogeny to floral scent composition remain poorly understood. In this study, we characterized interspecific variation of floral scent composition in the genus Jaborosa Juss. (Solanaceae) and, [...] Read more.
Floral scent is a key communication channel between plants and pollinators. However, the contributions of environment and phylogeny to floral scent composition remain poorly understood. In this study, we characterized interspecific variation of floral scent composition in the genus Jaborosa Juss. (Solanaceae) and, using an ecological niche modelling approach (ENM), we assessed the environmental variables that exerted the strongest influence on floral scent variation, taking into account pollination mode and phylogenetic relationships. Our results indicate that two major evolutionary themes have emerged: (i) a ‘warm Lowland Subtropical nectar-rewarding clade’ with large white hawkmoth pollinated flowers that emit fragrances dominated by oxygenated aromatic or sesquiterpenoid volatiles, and (ii) a ‘cool-temperate brood-deceptive clade’ of largely fly-pollinated species found at high altitudes (Andes) or latitudes (Patagonian Steppe) that emit foul odors including cresol, indole and sulfuric volatiles. The joint consideration of floral scent profiles, pollination mode, and geoclimatic context helped us to disentangle the factors that shaped floral scent evolution across “pollinator climates” (geographic differences in pollinator abundance or preference). Our findings suggest that the ability of plants in the genus Jaborosa to colonize newly formed habitats during Andean orogeny was associated with striking transitions in flower scent composition that trigger specific odor-driven behaviors in nocturnal hawkmoths and saprophilous fly pollinators. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Evolution of Floral Scent)
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20 pages, 3316 KiB  
Article
Differential Evolutionary History in Visual and Olfactory Floral Cues of the Bee-Pollinated Genus Campanula (Campanulaceae)
by Paulo Milet-Pinheiro, Pablo Sandro Carvalho Santos, Samuel Prieto-Benítez, Manfred Ayasse and Stefan Dötterl
Plants 2021, 10(7), 1356; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071356 - 2 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3667
Abstract
Visual and olfactory floral signals play key roles in plant-pollinator interactions. In recent decades, studies investigating the evolution of either of these signals have increased considerably. However, there are large gaps in our understanding of whether or not these two cue modalities evolve [...] Read more.
Visual and olfactory floral signals play key roles in plant-pollinator interactions. In recent decades, studies investigating the evolution of either of these signals have increased considerably. However, there are large gaps in our understanding of whether or not these two cue modalities evolve in a concerted manner. Here, we characterized the visual (i.e., color) and olfactory (scent) floral cues in bee-pollinated Campanula species by spectrophotometric and chemical methods, respectively, with the aim of tracing their evolutionary paths. We found a species-specific pattern in color reflectance and scent chemistry. Multivariate phylogenetic statistics revealed no influence of phylogeny on floral color and scent bouquet. However, univariate phylogenetic statistics revealed a phylogenetic signal in some of the constituents of the scent bouquet. Our results suggest unequal evolutionary pathways of visual and olfactory floral cues in the genus Campanula. While the lack of phylogenetic signal on both color and scent bouquet points to external agents (e.g., pollinators, herbivores) as evolutionary drivers, the presence of phylogenetic signal in at least some floral scent constituents point to an influence of phylogeny on trait evolution. We discuss why external agents and phylogeny differently shape the evolutionary paths in floral color and scent of closely related angiosperms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Evolution of Floral Scent)
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17 pages, 2504 KiB  
Article
Structure of the Chemical and Genetic Diversity of the True Lavender over Its Natural Range
by Yolande Despinasse, Sandrine Moja, Catherine Soler, Frédéric Jullien, Bernard Pasquier, Jean-Marie Bessière, Sylvie Baudino and Florence Nicolè
Plants 2020, 9(12), 1640; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9121640 - 24 Nov 2020
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4352
Abstract
The true lavender Lavandula angustifolia Miller is a Mediterranean aromatic shrub widely cultivated for its high quality essential oil used in perfumery and phytotherapy. Despite its economic importance, the intra-specific diversity among wild, non-cultivated plants remains poorly understood. We analyzed the structure of [...] Read more.
The true lavender Lavandula angustifolia Miller is a Mediterranean aromatic shrub widely cultivated for its high quality essential oil used in perfumery and phytotherapy. Despite its economic importance, the intra-specific diversity among wild, non-cultivated plants remains poorly understood. We analyzed the structure of the chemical and genetic diversity of plants from 14 sites sampled over the entire native range of the true lavender. Volatile organic compounds of inflorescences were analyzed using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Genotyping was performed with fingerprinting genetic markers. To limit the influence of environmental variability on chemical composition, plants were grown in the same conditions in a common garden. Without prior knowledge, discriminant analysis of principal component identified unambiguously four distinct chemotypes among three genetic populations. Co-inertia analysis and supervised analysis which integrated multiple datasets indicated a strong congruency between chemical and genetic patterns. Two distinct genetic units were located at the edge of the distribution area in the south of Italy and in the northeast of Spain, and were associated with two distinct chemotypes. Our results confirmed the existence of three genetically distinct entities, suggesting speciation. All French populations and the Italian Piedmontese population were genetically homogeneous but separated in two distinct chemotypes. The dominant chemotype was present in the center of the native range in southeastern France and was at the origin of the current most cultivated French varieties. Its main compounds were linalyl acetate, linalool, and caryophyllene oxide. The second French chemotype was found in south of Massif Central and presented high abundance of valuable linalyl and lavandulyl acetates. Linalool, eucalyptol, β-caryophyllene, borneol, camphor, and cis-sabinene-hydrate were significantly associated with southern latitudes and their role would be worth exploring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Evolution of Floral Scent)
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