Bamboo flowers visited by insects: do insects play a role in the pollination of bamboo flowers?

Ruíz-Sánchez, Eduardo; Peredo, Luis Cervantes; Santacruz, Jezabel Báez; Ayala, Ricardo

doi:10.1007/s00606-016-1351-1

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…In the current study, syrphid flies were observed foraging on centipede grass inflorescences, although their specific relationship with centipede grass inflorescence is not clearly understood. Previously, visitations of a syrphid fly species were observed on bamboo ( Guadua paniculata and G. inermis (Family: Poaceae)) flowers [ 23 ]. Grass spikelets are not widely known to produce nectar [ 16 ], and nectar is not evident in centipede grass inflorescences.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of Pollinators Foraging on Centipedegrass Inflorescences

Joseph

Harris‐Shultz

Jespersen

2020

Insects

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Turfgrasses are commonly used for lawns and as recreational surfaces in the USA. Because grasses are largely wind-pollinated, it was thought that pollinators would not forage on turfgrasses. Centipede grass (Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack) is a warm-season turfgrass widely used in the southeastern USA. Centipede grass produces spike-like inflorescences from August to October, and little is known about whether pollinators utilize those inflorescences as pollen resources. Thus, the objective of the current study was to identify the pollinators foraging on centipede grass inflorescences. Pollinator samples were collected by (1) sweeping the insects actively foraging on centipede grass inflorescence for 30 min, (2) deploying pan traps for 24 h and (3) deploying malaise traps for 7 d. In the sweep samples, Lasioglossum spp., Bombus spp., Apis spp., Melissodes spp. and Augochlorella spp. were collected from centipede grass inflorescences. Syrphid flies were also collected in the sweep samples. The pan and malaise traps collected mostly Lasioglossum spp. The results imply that there is a critical need to conserve bee habitats and adopt nondisruptive lawn practices. Additionally, this new knowledge lays the foundation for future research to enhance our understanding of bee and syrphid behavior and the selection of host traits for improving bee foraging.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence of Pollinators Foraging on Centipedegrass Inflorescences

Joseph

Harris‐Shultz

Jespersen

2020

Insects

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“…It is also possible that those insects aid anemophily (as each visit to a spikelet produced vibrations that liberated pollen, allowing it to be carried by the wind) but are not directly involved in the pollination process. Various insects have been observed visiting the anthers of bamboos, but they do not usually enter into contact with the plumose stigmas (Venkatesh 1984;Nadgauda et al 1993;Guilherme and Ressel 2001;Koshy et al 2001;Ruiz-Sanchez et al 2017). Huang et al (2002) suggested that Apis cerana Fabricius assisted wind pollination in Phyllostachys nidularia Munro, a woody bamboo from Asia, as its visits produced ''pollen clouds'' around the synflorescences, and those pollen grains were carried by the wind for at least two meters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies of grass pollination have suggested three pollination mode possibilities: anemophily, insect-mediated anemophily, and ambophily. Poaceae is considered to predominantly show anemophily and secondary ambophily (Wolowski and Freitas 2015;Ruiz-Sanchez et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive traits related to anemophily and insect visitors in two species of Poaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

et al. 2018

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The floral biologies of two grass species occurring in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Bahia were examined to determine whether the morphological characteristics of their synflorescences, spikelets, and pollen grains were compatible with those expected for anemophily, and whether there was any biotic assistance in their pollination. Both Lasiacis ligulata Hitchc. & Chase (Panicoideae) and Olyra latifolia L. (Bambusoideae) have herbaceous habits, paniculate synflorescences, bifloral and unifloral spikelets, inconspicuous flowers, with pollen offered as a resource. L. ligulata is a homogamous species, while O. latifolia is protogynous. Their pollens are only available in the morning; the pollen grains of L. ligulata and O. latifolia are ornamented and contain starch, but without pollenkitt or lipids. Both species are visited by flies (Cecidomyiidae), beetles (Chrysomelidae), and ants (Brachymyrmex sp.) that possibly can aid in liberating pollen grains. The present study brings new data concerning the floral biology and anemophily of herbaceous Poaceae in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, suggesting the insect-assisted anemophily in L. ligulata.

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“…Grass flowers are usually wind pollinated, although there are some reports of insect visitors (Soderstrom et al, 1971;Huang et al, 2002;Sajo et al, 2009;Ruiz-Sanchez et al, 2017) and they exhibit a number of features typical of wind-pollinated plants (Fig. 1).…”

Section: A Primer Of Grass Flower Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Grass flowers: An untapped resource for floral evo‐devo

Schrager‐Lavelle

Klein

Fisher

et al. 2017

J of Sytematics Evolution

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The abrupt origin and rapid diversification of the flowering plants presents what Darwin called "an abominable mystery". Floral diversification was a key factor in the rise of the flowering plants, but the molecular underpinnings of floral diversity remain mysterious. To understand the molecular biology underlying floral morphological evolution, genetic model systems are essential for rigorously testing gene function and gene interactions. Most model plants are eudicots, while in the monocots genetic models are almost entirely restricted to the grass family. Likely because grass flowers are diminutive and specialized for wind pollination, grasses have not been a major focus in floral evo-devo research. However, while grass flowers do not exhibit any of the raucous morphological diversification characteristic of the orchids, there is abundant floral variation in the family. Here, we discuss grass flower diversity, and review what is known about the developmental genetics of this diversity. In particular, we focus on three aspects of grass flower evolution: (1) the evolution of a novel organ identity-the lodicule; (2) lemma awns and their diversity; and (3) the convergent evolution of sexual differentiation. The combination of morphological diversity in the grass family at large and genetic models spread across the family provides a powerful framework for attaining deep understanding of the molecular genetics of floral evolution.

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Bamboo flowers visited by insects: do insects play a role in the pollination of bamboo flowers?

Cited by 18 publications

References 25 publications

Evidence of Pollinators Foraging on Centipedegrass Inflorescences

Evidence of Pollinators Foraging on Centipedegrass Inflorescences

Reproductive traits related to anemophily and insect visitors in two species of Poaceae from the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest

Grass flowers: An untapped resource for floral evo‐devo

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