FFCLRP, Department of Biology, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-901, Brazil.
BaunilhasBrasil, Av. Luigi Rosiello, 288, 14.051-090, Cidade Universitária, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Naturwissenschaften. 2024 Oct 14;111(6):57. doi: 10.1007/s00114-024-01941-5.
Orchids offer a variety of floral rewards to pollinators. In many orchid groups, however, the transfer of pollen is based on food-deception, as in the case of Laelia (including Schomburgkia s.s.), a genus assigned to the Neotropical subtribe Laeliinae. Here, we report on the reproductive biology of a Brazilian member of this subtribe, namely, Laelia gloriosa, occurring in the forested areas of southeastern Brazil. The study includes analyses of floral morphology, histochemistry, and the chemical analysis of floral rewards and scents. Pollinators and pollination mechanism data were collected in the field by means of focal observations. Analyses of breeding systems and the percentage of potentially viable seed were also recorded. The floral morphology of Laelia gloriosa indicates that this species is melittophilous. The flowers release a citrus-like fragrance that attracts many species of bee. The flowers offer waxy material as a reward, and this is collected exclusively by Meliponini bees. Several bee species visit the flowers. However, those of L. gloriosa are pollinated exclusively by Trigona spinipes. Pollinaria are deposited on the bee's scutellum. Plants of the studied population were entirely self-compatible, but pollinator-dependent. The frequency of visits to these flowers was greater than in rewardless Laeliinae. Our study provides the first evidence of lipoidal substances as a resource in Laeliinae. The discovery that an orchid species (Laelia gloriosa) of this subtribe, hitherto considered to be entirely pollinated by nectar-seeking pollinators, offers a floral waxy material and provides new insights into the evolution of this important subtribe.
兰花为传粉者提供了各种各样的花奖励。然而，在许多兰花群体中，花粉的传递是基于食物欺骗的，就像 Laelia（包括 Schomburgkia s.s.）属一样，它被分配到 Neotropical 亚科 Laeliinae。在这里，我们报告了这个亚科的一个巴西成员，即 Laelia gloriosa 的繁殖生物学，它发生在巴西东南部的森林地区。该研究包括对花形态、组织化学以及花奖励和香味的化学分析。传粉者和传粉机制的数据是通过焦点观察在野外收集的。繁殖系统和潜在可行种子的百分比的分析也被记录下来。Laelia gloriosa 的花形态表明，该物种是嗜蜜的。花释放出柑橘类的香味，吸引了许多种蜜蜂。花提供蜡质物质作为奖励，而这种物质只被 Meliponini 蜜蜂收集。有几个蜜蜂物种访问花朵。然而，L. gloriosa 的花只被 Trigona spinipes 授粉。花粉粒被沉积在蜜蜂的盾片上。研究种群的植物完全是自交亲和的，但依赖于传粉者。这些花的访问频率高于没有奖励的 Laeliinae。我们的研究首次提供了脂类物质作为 Laeliinae 资源的证据。发现这个亚科的一个兰花物种（Laelia gloriosa），迄今被认为完全由花蜜寻求传粉者授粉，提供了一种花蜡质物质，并为这个重要的亚科的进化提供了新的见解。
