Scent-mediated bee pollination and myrmecochory in an enigmatic geophyte with pyrogenic flowering and subterranean development of fleshy fruits.

ABSTRACT:

Premise

Volatile emissions from flowers and fruits play a key role in signalling to animals responsible for pollination and seed dispersal. Here, we investigated the pollination biology and chemical ecology of reproduction in Apodolirion buchananii, an African amaryllid that flowers in a leafless state soon after grassland vegetation is burnt in the dry late-winter season.

Methods

Pollinators were identified through field collection and pollen loads were quantified. Floral traits including spectral reflectance and scent chemistry were documented. Bioassays using cup traps were used to test the function of floral volatiles. Fruiting biology was investigated using controlled hand-pollination experiments and chemical analysis of fruit scent. Seed germination was scored in green

SUBMITTER: Kiepiel I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11584040 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature