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A cell wall invertase controls nectar volume and sugar composition.

Anzu Minami1, Xiaojun Kang1, Clay J Carter1

  • 1Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 1479 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA.

The Plant Journal : for Cell and Molecular Biology
|May 28, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Cell wall invertases (CWINVs) are crucial for nectar production in Brassica rapa. Their activity shapes nectar volume and sugar content, influencing plant-pollinator interactions and honeybee visitation rates.

Keywords:
invertasenectarnectariesnectarypollinator

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Area of Science:

  • Plant biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Nectar volume and sugar composition are critical for plant-pollinator mutualisms.
  • Brassica spp. typically produce hexose-dominant nectar with low sucrose levels.
  • Cell wall invertases (CWINVs) hydrolyze sucrose into glucose and fructose in the apoplast.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of BrCWINV4A in Brassica rapa nectar production.
  • To determine the impact of CWINV activity on nectar volume and sugar composition.
  • To understand the mechanism of nectar secretion and its relation to osmotic potential.

Main Methods:

  • Gene expression analysis of BrCWINV4A in Brassica rapa nectaries.
  • Characterization of a brcwinv4a null mutant for CWINV activity, nectar composition, and volume.
  • Observation of honeybee visitation rates to wild-type and mutant flowers.

Main Results:

  • BrCWINV4A is highly expressed in Brassica rapa nectaries.
  • A brcwinv4a null mutant exhibited reduced CWINV activity, producing sucrose-rich nectar with significantly lower volume.
  • Extracellular hydrolysis by BrCWINV4A likely drives nectar secretion and droplet formation via osmotic potential.

Conclusions:

  • CWINV activity is essential for producing hexose-rich nectar and influences nectar volume.
  • Modulation of CWINV activity can explain variations in nectar volume and sugar profiles.
  • Despite producing sucrose-rich nectar, the low volume of the mutant flowers reduced honeybee visitation compared to wild-type.