To cheat or to treat? Fungus gnat pollination in <i>Aspidistra</i>

Wei, Lin; Xu, Yingjie; Jiang, Yu-Hui; Ma, Zhonghui

doi:10.1002/ecy.3729

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…However, the succulent appendix of some Arisaema species, such as Amaranthus thunbergii, may serve as a food source for pollinator larvae, leading to the possibility of nursery pollination (i.e., brood-site pollination). This idea is supported by observations in other plant species, such as Aspidistra longipetala (Asparagaceae) and Gastrodia foetida (Orchidaceae), in which decaying succulent floral tissues provide nourishment for larvae of their brood pollinators (Lin et al, 2022;Suetsugu, 2023).…”

supporting

confidence: 57%

“…While fungus gnat larvae primarily feed on fungi, nursery pollination has been confirmed in Rheum nobile (Polygonaceae), in which larvae of a Bradysia species (Sciaridae) consume seeds (Song et al, 2014), and in A. longipetala (Asparagaceae), in which larvae of another Bradysia species feed on decaying floral tissues (Lin et al, 2022). Although mutualisms in which plants sacrifice a subset of ovules or developing seeds in exchange for pollination are classic examples of nursery pollination (Hembry & Althoff, 2016;Herre et al, 2008;Kato et al, 2003), several plant groups are pollinated by insects that breed on decaying floral tissues (Kawakita & Kato, 2002;Lin et al, 2022;Sakai, 2002bSakai, , 2002a. This form of mutualism is likely to be more prevalent because it imposes fewer costs on the plants than mutualisms in which plants sacrifice ovules or developing seeds (Sakai, 2002a).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Back from the dead: A fungus gnat pollinator turns Arisaema lethal trap into nursery

Suetsugu,

Nishigaki,

Kakishima

et al. 2024

Plants People Planet

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Societal Impact StatementThe research explores the complex interaction between flowering plants and their pollinators, specifically focusing on the genus Arisaema. Unlike most plants, Arisaema has a distinctive trait in which killing pollinators can be beneficial. Traditionally, this interaction has been viewed as highly antagonistic because it appears to favor the plants at the expense of the pollinators. However, new evidence reveals that a pollinator uses the lethal floral trap of Arisaema thunbergii as a nursery. Remarkably, some individuals probably even escape from the trap after laying eggs. This finding challenges the prevailing notion that deceptive pollination is the sole outcome in Arisaema, a genus known for its intricate lethal pollination mechanisms.Summary While many flowering plants engage in mutualistic relationships with their pollinators, flower‐insect interactions are not always mutually beneficial. Some plants exploit their pollinators by deceptively promising rewards without delivering them. Among such plants, the genus Arisaema (Araceae) is notable for its antagonistic behavior towards pollinators, as female plants invariably entrap them with lethal effects. Here we tested the hypothesis that the succulent appendix of some Arisaema species, such as Arisaema thunbergii, may serve as a food source for pollinator larvae, leading to the possibility of nursery pollination. To investigate this, we retrieved adult insect corpses trapped within the spathes of A. thunbergii. Subsequently, we incubated the spathes after collecting the corpses to determine if conspecific insects emerged from them. We present novel evidence that one of the main pollinating fungus gnats, Leia ishitanii, uses the lethal floral trap of A. thunbergii inflorescences as a nursery. Astonishingly, some L. ishitanii individuals may even succeed in escaping from the female spathe after depositing their eggs. These findings challenge the conventional understanding that deceptive pollination is the norm within the genus Arisaema. The interaction between A. thunbergii and L. ishitanii, in which a significant portion of female adults die inside but still reproduction seems successful, suggests an intermediate stage between brood‐site deception and nursery pollination mutualism.

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supporting

confidence: 57%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Back from the dead: A fungus gnat pollinator turns Arisaema lethal trap into nursery

Suetsugu,

Nishigaki,

Kakishima

et al. 2024

Plants People Planet

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“…The consumption of decomposing flowers incurs at minimal or no cost for the plant, making this interaction less costly compared with other nursery pollination mutualisms. However, our knowledge of pollination systems involving decomposing flowers remains limited (Lin et al, 2022; Sakai, 2002b).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

A novel nursery pollination system between a mycoheterotrophic orchid and mushroom‐feeding flies

Suetsugu

2023

Ecology

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“…However, most Aspidistra species have cryptic flowering and fruiting. The inconspicuous Aspidistra flowers, commonly found near the ground and concealed beneath leaf litter [20,21], can be easily overlooked or difficult to collect during field investigations, which might have hindered identifying species within the genus [22]. In addition, even supplemented with evidence of cytophylogenies (e.g., chromosome number, size, and morphology of chromosome), micromorphological features and palynological characters (pollen), these are far from sufficient for species identification of the genus [10,23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comprehensive Comparative Analyses of Aspidistra Chloroplast Genomes: Insights into Interspecific Plastid Diversity and Phylogeny

Huang,

Lu,

Lin

et al. 2023

Genes

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Limestone karsts are renowned for extremely high species richness and endemism. Aspidistra (Asparagaceae) is among the highly diversified genera distributed in karst areas, making it an ideal group for studying the evolutionary mechanisms of karst plants. The taxonomy and identification of Aspidistra species are mainly based on their specialized and diverse floral structures. Aspidistra plants have inconspicuous flowers, and the similarity in vegetative morphology often leads to difficulties in species discrimination. Chloroplast genomes possess variable genetic information and offer the potential for interspecies identification. However, as yet there is little information about the interspecific diversity and evolution of the plastid genomes of Aspidistra. In this study, we reported chloroplast (cp) genomes of seven Aspidistra species (A. crassifila, A. dolichanthera, A. erecta, A. longgangensis, A. minutiflora, A. nankunshanensis, and A. retusa). These seven highly-conserved plastid genomes all have a typical quartile structure and include a total of 113 unique genes, comprising 79 protein-coding genes, 4 rRNA genes and 30 tRNA genes. Additionally, we conducted a comprehensive comparative analysis of Aspidistra cp genomes. We identified eight divergent hotspot regions (trnC-GCA-petN, trnE-UUC-psbD, accD-psaI, petA-psbJ, rpl20-rps12, rpl36-rps8, ccsA-ndhD and rps15-ycf1) that serve as potential molecular markers. Our newly generated Aspidistra plastomes enrich the resources of plastid genomes of karst plants, and an investigation into the plastome diversity offers novel perspectives on the taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution of Aspidistra species.

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To cheat or to treat? Fungus gnat pollination in Aspidistra

Cited by 4 publications

References 24 publications

Back from the dead: A fungus gnat pollinator turns Arisaema lethal trap into nursery

Back from the dead: A fungus gnat pollinator turns Arisaema lethal trap into nursery

A novel nursery pollination system between a mycoheterotrophic orchid and mushroom‐feeding flies

Comprehensive Comparative Analyses of Aspidistra Chloroplast Genomes: Insights into Interspecific Plastid Diversity and Phylogeny

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