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Herbivore-induced Blueberry Volatiles and Intra-plant Signaling
Published on: December 18, 2011
Flower volatiles, crop varieties and bee responses
Björn K Klatt1, Carina Burmeister, Catrin Westphal
1Agroecology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. klattbk@googlemail.com
Plos One
|August 27, 2013
Summary
Strawberry flower volatiles influence pollinator visits. Variety-specific scent profiles, particularly higher emissions from the Sonata variety, significantly attract wild bees (Osmia bicornis L.), impacting crop pollination and fruit yield.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Chemical Ecology
- Entomology
Background:
- Pollination is vital for global food production, enhancing crop yield and quality.
- Crop flower volatiles are key mediators of plant-pollinator interactions, yet variety-specific differences remain under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne) variety-specific flower volatiles influence visitation by the wild bee Osmia bicornis L.
- To determine the effect of these volatiles on pollination services.
Main Methods:
- Headspace collection and gas chromatography to analyze volatile compounds from three strawberry varieties.
- Electroantennography (EAG) to assess olfactory responses of Osmia bicornis females to volatile compounds.
- Field observations to record Osmia bicornis visitation rates to different strawberry varieties.
Main Results:
- All three strawberry varieties emitted the same volatile compounds, but with quantitative differences.
- Osmia bicornis females exhibited antennal responses to all tested volatile compounds, with varying sensitivities.
- The Sonata variety emitted higher total volatile levels and attracted more Osmia bicornis visits compared to Honeoye and Darselect.
Conclusions:
- Quantitative differences in floral volatile emissions among strawberry varieties significantly mediate their attractiveness to Osmia bicornis.
- Understanding these volatile-mediated interactions is crucial for optimizing pollination and improving crop production through targeted variety selection in breeding programs.
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