|
|||||
|
|
Fig volatiles: Their role in attracting pollinators and maintaining pollinator specificity |
|
| Authors: | Anthony B Ware Perry T Kaye Stephen G Compton Simon Van Noort |
| Institution: | (1) Present address: Outspan Citrus Centre, Nelspruit 1200, P.O. Box 28, South Africa;(2) Present address: Department of Pure and Applied Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, England;(3) Present address: South African Museum, P.O. Box 61, 8000 Cape Town, South Africa;(4) Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, 6140 Grahamstown, South Africa;(5) Department of Chemistry, Rhodes University, 6140 Grahamstown, South Africa |
| Abstract: | Each fig tree species (Ficus) is totally dependent on a specific species of wasp for pollination and the larvae of these wasps only develop in the ovules of their specificFicus host. Because the fig crop on any particular tree is generally highly synchronized, the shortlived female wasps must leave their natal tree in order to find figs which are suitable for oviposition. Chemical volatiles produced by figs when they are ready for pollination are thought to be the means by which the wasps detect a suitable host. Gas chromatograms of the fig volatiles of 7 species ofFicus showed them to be species specific. Age related changes in the volatile profiles were noted as extra volatiles are produced when the figs were ready for pollination. |
| Keywords: | Moraceae Ficus figs Agaonidae fig wasps Volatiles coevolution pollination host specificity |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ | |