Occurrence of octadeca-trans-2,cis-9,cis-12-trienoic acid in pollen attractive to the honey bee

Abstract

Mixed pollen, gathered by honey bees, contained a free fatty acid which was isolated and identified as octadeca-trans-2,cis-9,cis-12-trienoic acid. The acid was shown to be an attractant for the honey bee. It is evidently produced by the plant and acts as a food marker for the insect.

Pollen and Stigma Structure and Function: The Role of Diversity in Pollination

“…Analysis of higher molecular mass proteins from Arabidopsis yielded a simpler mixture, including lipases, Gly-rich oleosins, calcium binding proteins, and proteins with similarity to the extracellular domains of receptor kinases, although lacking the kinase domain (Mayfield and Preuss, 2000;Mayfield et al, 2001). Pollen coats also contain volatile lipids for pollinator attraction, such as polyunsaturated C18 free fatty acids, which are known to be potent honeybee attractants (Hopkins et al, 1969). Chemical analyses of 15 plant species from 10 families revealed that the pollen of each species emits its own characteristic mixture of volatiles, with the three major classes of volatiles seen in floral scents, isoprenoids, fatty acids, and benzoids, present in pollen volatiles to different degrees depending on the species (Dobson and Bergstrom, 2000).…”

Biogenesis and function of the lipidic structures of pollen grains

“…In some cases, the floral (possibly pollen) volatiles can simultaneously repel undesirable insects while attracting desirable pollinators, such as bees (Willmer and Stone 1997). It has been shown that a polyunsaturated C 18 free fatty acid present in mixed pollen samples gathered by honey bees is a potent attractant for the bees (Hopkins et al 1969). In other studies, volatiles, including xylene, limonene and hectadecanone were shown to be released by various types of pollen (Henning and Teuber 1992;Dobson et al 1996).…”

Über Die Wirkung Von Pollenextrakten Und Duftstoffen Auf Das Sammel- Und Werbeverhalten Höselnder Bienen (Apis Mellifica L.)

“…BocH, 1969). Die 6-Waben-Beobachtungsstock (v. FRISCH, 1923L INDAUER , 1952) (v. FRISCH, 1919, SCHWARZ, 1955FISCHER, 1957) (L INDAUER , 1948;K ASCHEF , 1957 …”