INVESTIGADORES
TORRES Carolina Cecilia
artículos
Título:
Nectar ecology of Datura ferox (Solanaceae): an invasive weed with nocturnal flowers in agro-ecosystems from Central Argentina.
Autor/es:
TORRES, C.; MIMOSA, M.; GALETTO, L.
Revista:
PLANT SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
Editorial:
SPRINGER WIEN
Referencias:
Lugar: Viena; Año: 2013 vol. 299 p. 1111 - 1111
ISSN:
0378-2697
Resumen:
Plant?pollinator interactions provide highly
important ecological functions, and are influenced by floral
nectar characteristics. The night blooming Datura ferox is
an excellent model to test general hypotheses on the relationship
between nectar traits (e.g., nectar secretion patterns,
nectar chemical composition), pollinators and
reproductive success for invasive, weedy species in highly
modified ecosystems as crop fields. We hypothesized an
adjustment between nectar composition and secretion
dynamics through flower anthesis and the activity and
requirements of nocturnal pollinators. Nectar chemical
analyses showed low quantities of amino acids and lipids,
phenolics, and alkaloids were not detected. D. ferox
showed sucrose-dominant nectar with comparable amount
of hexoses. Sugar proportions did not vary between populations
or during flowering season. Most nectar is secreted
before flower opening. Nectar resorption was detected at
the end of anthesis. Experimentally drained flowers of both
populations increased nectar production up to 50 % in the
total amount of sugar per flower compared to control
flowers. Nectar standing crop was relatively constant during
the flowering season, but differences were detected
between populations. Nectar traits of D. ferox would be
favoring cross-pollination and maintaining seed production
of this weed, since recently open flowers display a higher
amount of nectar and they can renew nectar after a pollinator
visit or reabsorb it at the end of anthesis. This nectar
source may be important for native pollinators considering
that human-induced forest fragmentation is related with the
impoverishment of native flora from agro-ecosystems.