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Color and scent: how single genes influence pollinator attraction
H Sheehan1, K Hermann, C Kuhlemeier
1Institute of Plant Sciences, Altenbergrain 21, CH-3013 Bern, Switzerland.
Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology
|March 8, 2013
Summary
Angiosperm flowers attract pollinators via petal color and scent, which are key traits in pollination syndromes. Understanding the genes controlling these traits is crucial for studying plant speciation.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Evolutionary biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Angiosperm flowers attract animal pollinators for pollen transfer, a process often linked to pollination syndromes.
- Pollination syndromes are sets of floral traits correlated with specific pollinator groups.
- Switches in pollination syndromes, involving coordinated genetic and trait changes, are observed in many plant families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on the biosynthetic pathways of floral color and scent production.
- To explore the genetic and biochemical interactions underlying these floral traits.
- To identify key genes responsible for natural variation in color and scent and their role in pollinator preference, reproductive isolation, and speciation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current research on floral color and scent biosynthesis.
- Analysis of genetic and biochemical interactions between floral traits.
- Examination of studies on natural variation in floral traits and their impact on pollinators.
Main Results:
- Floral color and scent are critical for pollinator attraction and are governed by complex biosynthetic pathways.
- Coordinated changes in multiple genes underlie shifts in pollination syndromes.
- Natural variation in genes controlling color and scent influences pollinator preference and reproductive isolation.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the genetic basis of floral color and scent is essential for comprehending plant evolution and speciation.
- Genes controlling floral traits play a significant role in shaping plant-pollinator interactions.
- Further research into the genetic underpinnings of floral diversity can illuminate the mechanisms of speciation.
Related Concept Videos
02:40Pollination and Flower Structure
Flowers are the reproductive, seed-producing structures of angiosperms. Typically, flowers consist of sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. Sepals and petals are the vegetative flower organs. Stamens and carpels are the reproductive organs.
01:20Mate Choice
Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.
02:16Genetics of Speciation
Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.
01:07Speciation Rates
Overview
01:21Frequency-dependent Selection
When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.
02:27Background and Environment Affect Phenotype
Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...