SCIENCE@home

Drought stress alters floral volatiles and reduces floral rewards, pollinator activity, and seed set in a global plant

Caitlin C. Rering,J. G. Franco,K. Yeater,Rachel E. Mallinger

Published 2020 in Ecosphere

ABSTRACT

. Plant – pollinator interactions are mediated by fl oral signals and by the quantity and quality of fl oral rewards. Biotic and abiotic disturbances can in fl uence plant reproductive success through both direct effects on plant performance and indirect effects on pollinator attraction. In this study, we examined the effects of drought on buckwheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum Moensch), a globally cultivated plant that is prone to drought stress, dependent on insect pollinators for reproduction, and increasingly utilized in on-farm conservation. Between drought-stressed and control plants, we compared: nectar quantity and chemical composition, pollen quantity, fl oral volatile emissions, visits by both managed and wild pollinators, and plant reproductive success. Drought-stressed plants produced signi fi cantly fewer fl owers and less nectar per fl ower, though pollen quantity per fl ower was unaffected. Nectar from drought-stressed plants had a lower proportion of sucrose relative to total sugars, though overall sugar concentration was unaffected. Signi fi cantly fewer bumble bees, honey bees, and fl ies were recorded on drought-stressed plants. While there was no signi fi cant difference in the quantity of total fl oral volatile emissions, volatile compositions differed, with drought-stressed plants having higher emissions of ( Z )-3-hexenol, isobutyraldehyde, 2-methylbutanal, and 3-methylbutanal. Finally, drought stress had negative effects on seed set and total seed mass per plant. Our results show that drought stress can have signi fi cant effects on fl oral traits and pollinator attraction, reducing plant reproductive success, and the nectar resources available to pollinators. Thus, the potential value of this plant in pollinator conservation and as a honey plant may be reduced under drought stress.

PUBLICATION RECORD

CITATION MAP

EXTRACTION MAP

CLAIMS

  • No claims are published for this paper.

CONCEPTS

  • No concepts are published for this paper.

REFERENCES

Showing 1-62 of 62 references · Page 1 of 1

CITED BY

Showing 1-89 of 89 citing papers · Page 1 of 1