IMBIV   05474
INSTITUTO MULTIDISCIPLINARIO DE BIOLOGIA VEGETAL
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
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. 1433 - 1441
ISSN:
0378-2697
Resumen:
Abstract Plant?pollinator interactions provide highlyimportant ecological functions, and are influenced by floralnectar characteristics. The night blooming Datura ferox isan excellent model to test general hypotheses on the relationshipbetween nectar traits (e.g., nectar secretion patterns,nectar chemical composition), pollinators andreproductive success for invasive, weedy species in highlymodified ecosystems as crop fields. We hypothesized anadjustment between nectar composition and secretiondynamics through flower anthesis and the activity andrequirements of nocturnal pollinators. Nectar chemicalanalyses showed low quantities of amino acids and lipids,phenolics, and alkaloids were not detected. D. feroxshowed sucrose-dominant nectar with comparable amountof hexoses. Sugar proportions did not vary between populationsor during flowering season. Most nectar is secretedbefore flower opening. Nectar resorption was detected atthe end of anthesis. Experimentally drained flowers of bothpopulations increased nectar production up to 50 % in thetotal amount of sugar per flower compared to controlflowers. Nectar standing crop was relatively constant duringthe flowering season, but differences were detectedbetween populations. Nectar traits of D. ferox would befavoring cross-pollination and maintaining seed productionof this weed, since recently open flowers display a higheramount of nectar and they can renew nectar after a pollinatorvisit or reabsorb it at the end of anthesis. This nectarsource may be important for native pollinators consideringthat human-induced forest fragmentation is related with theimpoverishment of native flora from agro-ecosystems.