On the horizon for nectar‐related research

Liao, Irene T.; Hileman, Lena C.; Roy, Roshni

doi:10.1002/ajb2.1767

Cited by 4 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nectaries, and the nectar they secrete, are integral to plant-animal interactions and, as such, warrant detailed investigation across taxa ( Liao et al., 2021 ). They have evolved multiple times across angiosperms and are remarkably variable in position, structure, and morphology ( Bernardello, 2007 ; Nepi, 2007 ; Nepi et al., 2018 ; Liao et al., 2021 ; Slavkovic et al., 2021 ). Despite this variation, nectaries are united by the simple function of producing nectar, a complex sugar-rich solution that contains a wide range of metabolites and microbes ( Nepi, 2007 ; Heil, 2011 ; Nepi et al., 2018 ; Slavkovic et al., 2021 ; Liao et al., 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They have evolved multiple times across angiosperms and are remarkably variable in position, structure, and morphology ( Bernardello, 2007 ; Nepi, 2007 ; Nepi et al., 2018 ; Liao et al., 2021 ; Slavkovic et al., 2021 ). Despite this variation, nectaries are united by the simple function of producing nectar, a complex sugar-rich solution that contains a wide range of metabolites and microbes ( Nepi, 2007 ; Heil, 2011 ; Nepi et al., 2018 ; Slavkovic et al., 2021 ; Liao et al., 2021 ). As a critical reward to insects, and potential attractor, nectaries and their nectar drive many macroevolutionary patterns via relationships with pollinators and other animals ( Parachnowitsch et al., 2019 ; Liao et al., 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite this variation, nectaries are united by the simple function of producing nectar, a complex sugar-rich solution that contains a wide range of metabolites and microbes ( Nepi, 2007 ; Heil, 2011 ; Nepi et al., 2018 ; Slavkovic et al., 2021 ; Liao et al., 2021 ). As a critical reward to insects, and potential attractor, nectaries and their nectar drive many macroevolutionary patterns via relationships with pollinators and other animals ( Parachnowitsch et al., 2019 ; Liao et al., 2021 ). Nectaries are associated with all plant organs except for roots, and floral nectaries can be associated with any floral organ ( Nepi, 2007 ; Liao et al., 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a critical reward to insects, and potential attractor, nectaries and their nectar drive many macroevolutionary patterns via relationships with pollinators and other animals ( Parachnowitsch et al., 2019 ; Liao et al., 2021 ). Nectaries are associated with all plant organs except for roots, and floral nectaries can be associated with any floral organ ( Nepi, 2007 ; Liao et al., 2021 ). Nectary morphology can be structured (i.e., distinct morphology with identifiable cell types) or unstructured (i.e., no specialized morphology) ( Nepi, 2007 ; Slavkovic et al., 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nectary development in Cleome violacea

Carey

Zenchyzen²,

Deneka³

et al. 2023

Front. Plant Sci.

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Nectaries are a promising frontier for plant evo-devo research, and are particularly fascinating given their diversity in form, position, and secretion methods across angiosperms. Emerging model systems permit investigations of the molecular basis for nectary development and nectar secretion across a range of taxa, which addresses fundamental questions about underlying parallelisms and convergence. Herein, we explore nectary development and nectar secretion in the emerging model taxa, Cleome violacea (Cleomaceae), which exhibits a prominent adaxial nectary. First, we characterized nectary anatomy and quantified nectar secretion to establish a foundation for quantitative and functional gene experiments. Next, we leveraged RNA-seq to establish gene expression profiles of nectaries across three key stages of development: pre-anthesis, anthesis, and post-fertilization. We then performed functional studies on five genes that were putatively involved in nectary and nectar formation: CvCRABSCLAW (CvCRC), CvAGAMOUS (CvAG), CvSHATTERPROOF (CvSHP), CvSWEET9, and a highly expressed but uncharacterized transcript. These experiments revealed a high degree of functional convergence to homologues from other core Eudicots, especially Arabidopsis. CvCRC, redundantly with CvAG and CvSHP, are required for nectary initiation. Concordantly, CvSWEET9 is essential for nectar formation and secretion, which indicates that the process is eccrine based in C. violacea. While demonstration of conservation is informative to our understanding of nectary evolution, questions remain. For example, it is unknown which genes are downstream of the developmental initiators CvCRC, CvAG, and CvSHP, or what role the TCP gene family plays in nectary initiation in this family. Further to this, we have initiated a characterization of associations between nectaries, yeast, and bacteria, but more research is required beyond establishing their presence. Cleome violacea is an excellent model for continued research into nectary development because of its conspicuous nectaries, short generation time, and close taxonomic distance to Arabidopsis.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Nectary development in Cleome violacea

Carey

Zenchyzen²,

Deneka³

et al. 2023

Front. Plant Sci.

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Decoding the black essence of Melianthus nectar

2023

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Floral nectar reabsorption and a sugar concentration gradient in two long-spurred Habenaria species (Orchidaceae)

et al. 2023

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Background Floral nectar is the most common reward flowers offered to pollinators. The quality and quantity of nectar produced by a plant species provide a key to understanding its interactions with pollinators and predicting rates of reproductive success. However, nectar secretion is a dynamic process with a production period accompanied or followed by reabsorption and reabsorption remains an understudied topic. In this study, we compared nectar volume and sugar concentration in the flowers of two long-spurred orchid species, Habenaria limprichtii and H. davidii (Orchidaceae). We also compared sugar concentration gradients within their spurs and rates of reabsorption of water and sugars. Results Both species produced diluted nectar with sugar concentrations from 17 to 24%. Analyses of nectar production dynamics showed that as flowers of both species wilted almost all sugar was reabsorbed while the original water was retained in their spurs. We established a nectar sugar concentration gradient for both species, with differences in sugar concentrations at their spur’s terminus and at their spur’s entrance (sinus). Sugar concentration gradient levels were 1.1% in H. limprichtii and 2.8% in H. davidii, both decreasing as flowers aged. Conclusion We provided evidence for the reabsorption of sugars but not water occurred in wilted flowers of both Habenaria species. Their sugar concentration gradients vanished as flowers aged suggesting a slow process of sugar diffusion from the nectary at the spur’s terminus where the nectar gland is located. The processes of nectar secretion/reabsorption in conjunction with the dilution and hydration of sugar rewards for moth pollinators warrant further study.

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On the horizon for nectar‐related research

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

Nectary development in Cleome violacea

Nectary development in Cleome violacea

Decoding the black essence of Melianthus nectar

Floral nectar reabsorption and a sugar concentration gradient in two long-spurred Habenaria species (Orchidaceae)

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