Linking frugivores to the dynamics of a fruit color polymorphism

Whitney, Kenneth D.

doi:10.3732/ajb.92.5.859

Cited by 42 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…The preference for the red color may be explained by its attractiveness to birds (Whitney, 2005;Gagetti et al, 2016). The fact that insects did not show a preference for the red color in our study goes against previous studies (Takahara and Takahashi, 2016) and may be explained by the high effectiveness of the chemical treatments in our study region.…”

Section: Grape Lossescontrasting

confidence: 83%

Effects of native biodiversity on grape loss of four castes: testing the biotic resistance hypothesis

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Management of agricultural landscapes can influence the biodiversity and the ecological services provided by these ecosystems, such as natural biological pest control. Viticulture is a very important economic activity in most countries with Mediterranean climate, often shaping their landscapes and culture. Grape production is affected by a number of pests and diseases, and farmers use prophylactic and response-driven pesticides to control these pests. Here we quantified the main biotic causes of crop losses in four grape castes, two red (Touriga Nacional and Baga) and two white (Arinto and Chardonnay), and evaluated the potential effect of native biodiversity to provide biotic resistance to pest outbreaks and grape losses. Specifically, the diversity and abundance of bird and insect communities in these vineyards were quantified and divided into functional guilds (pest, neutral or auxiliary), to test whether these natural communities hold the potential to naturally control grape pests (biotic resistance hypothesis) under normal vineyard management (including pesticide application regimes). A potential association between distance to the vineyard edge and grape losses was also evaluated. We recorded a very small proportion of grape losses (mean = 0.6 %; max = 7.5 %), with insect pests showing a preference for the castes Baga (red) and Chardonnay (white), while bird pests avoided the caste Arinto (white). Grape color did not influence losses caused by insect pests, but birds showed a preference for red castes. The caste Baga was also more vulnerable to losses caused by fungi. Despite their low impact on grape production, most insects and birds detected in the six vineyards were pests, which entails a potentially low level of biotic resistance in this highly managed agricultural ecosystem. Further research is necessary to fully evaluate the role of functional biodiversity in vineyards, particularly if alternative production processes, such as organic farming, can increase the potential of native biodiversity to protect against grape losses from pests under lower regimes of chemical spraying.

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Section: Grape Lossescontrasting

confidence: 83%

Effects of native biodiversity on grape loss of four castes: testing the biotic resistance hypothesis

et al. 2018

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“…Color preferences and fidelity have been reported in previous studies (e.g. Puckey et al, 1996;Whitney, 2005); however, this may be transient and strongly depend upon the environment (Schmidt et al, 2004). Then, we may predict a non-random variation in fruit choice, based not only by colors but also due to the contrast that each color has in different background, which varies in areas having different luminosities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Fruit color preference by birds and applications to ecological restoration

2016

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Ecological restoration aims to retrieve not only the structure but also the functionality of ecosystems. Frugivorous birds may play an important role in this process due to their efficiency in seed dispersal. Color perception in these animals is highly developed, and then the colors of fleshy fruits may provide important clues for choosing plant species for restoration plans. This study aims to integrate bird color preferences and restoration of degraded areas, with an objective to evaluate the potential attractiveness to birds by colored fruits. We carried out an experiment with 384 artificial fruits made of edible modeling clay with the following colors: black, blue, green and red, with 96 fruits of each color in six sites, including four restored areas and two second-growth forest fragments. We also tested the possible effect of light intensity on fruit consumption by color. A total of 120 (38.6%) were assumed to be consumed by birds, and the fruit consumption varied in response to the location and light incidence. Consumption of black and blue fruits was not related to site by chance. Notwithstanding, red and black fruits were consumed significantly more than any other colors, emphasizing bird preference to these colors, regardless of location. Enrichment with shade tolerant shrubs or forest species with black or red fruits may be an alternative way to manage established restorations. In recently established or new restorations, one may introduce pioneer shrubs or short-lived forest species which have blue fruits, but also those having black or red ones.Keywords: artificial fruits, Atlantic Forest, frugivory, ecological succession, color perception. Preferência de cor de frutos por aves e aplicações à restauração ecológica ResumoA restauração ecológica tem a finalidade de recuperar não apenas a estrutura, mas também a funcionalidade dos ecossistemas, e as aves frugívoras podem desempenhar um papel importante neste processo devido à sua eficiência na dispersão de sementes. Como a percepção da cor nestes animais é altamente desenvolvida, a cor dos frutos carnosos pode ser uma característica importante na escolha de espécies de plantas para os reflorestamentos. Este estudo tem como foco integrar a preferência de cor de frutos por aves e a recuperação de áreas degradadas, objetivando determinar a atratividade potencial de aves por frutos de cores diferentes. Foi realizado um experimento com 384 frutos artificiais feitos com massa de modelar comestível nas cores preta, azul, verde e vermelha, com um total de 96 frutos em cada cor em seis locais, incluindo quatro áreas restauradas e dois fragmentos de floresta secundária. Também foi testado o possível efeito da intensidade de luz sobre o consumo de frutos conforme as cores. Um total de 120 (38,6%) frutos foi considerado consumido pelas aves, e o consumo variou em resposta aos locais e incidência de luz. O consumo de frutos pretos e azuis foi significativamente relacionado com o local. Os frutos vermelhos e pretos foram significativamente mais consumidos do...

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“…For example, the flavonoid naringenin chalcone, accumulating in the fruit peel during the Br stage, could serve in the protection against UV radiation and in the attraction of frugivors by its intense pigmentation Whitney, 2005). Metabolites present in the peel, such as the amyrins and naringenin chalcone, could also serve as structural elements of the cuticle.…”

Section: Flavonoids Glycoalkaloids and The Amyrin-type Pentacyclic mentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene Expression and Metabolism in Tomato Fruit Surface Tissues

Mintz-Oron

Mandel²,

Rogachev³

et al. 2008

Plant Physiology

307

326

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The cuticle, covering the surface of all primary plant organs, plays important roles in plant development and protection against the biotic and abiotic environment. In contrast to vegetative organs, very little molecular information has been obtained regarding the surfaces of reproductive organs such as fleshy fruit. To broaden our knowledge related to fruit surface, comparative transcriptome and metabolome analyses were carried out on peel and flesh tissues during tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruit development. Out of 574 peel-associated transcripts, 17% were classified as putatively belonging to metabolic pathways generating cuticular components, such as wax, cutin, and phenylpropanoids. Orthologs of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) SHINE2 and MIXTA-LIKE regulatory factors, activating cutin and wax biosynthesis and fruit epidermal cell differentiation, respectively, were also predominantly expressed in the peel. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using a flame ionization detector identified 100 metabolites that are enriched in the peel tissue during development. These included flavonoids, glycoalkaloids, and amyrin-type pentacyclic triterpenoids as well as polar metabolites associated with cuticle and cell wall metabolism and protection against photooxidative stress. Combined results at both transcript and metabolite levels revealed that the formation of cuticular lipids precedes phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis. Expression patterns of reporter genes driven by the upstream region of the wax-associated SlCER6 gene indicated progressive activity of this wax biosynthetic gene in both fruit exocarp and endocarp. Peel-associated genes identified in our study, together with comparative analysis of genes enriched in surface tissues of various other plant species, establish a springboard for future investigations of plant surface biology.

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Linking frugivores to the dynamics of a fruit color polymorphism

Cited by 42 publications

References 46 publications

Effects of native biodiversity on grape loss of four castes: testing the biotic resistance hypothesis

Effects of native biodiversity on grape loss of four castes: testing the biotic resistance hypothesis

Fruit color preference by birds and applications to ecological restoration

Gene Expression and Metabolism in Tomato Fruit Surface Tissues

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