Floral scents of a deceptive plant are hyperdiverse and under population-specific phenotypic selection

Eva Gfrerer, Danai Laina, Marc Gibernau, Roman Fuchs, Martin Happ, Till Tolasch, Wolfgang Trutschnig, Anja Hörger, Hans Peter Comes, Stefan Dötterl

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Floral scent is a key mediator in plant-pollinator interactions; however, little is known to what extent intraspecific scent variation is shaped by phenotypic selection, with no information yet in deceptive plants. We recorded 291 scent compounds in deceptive moth fly-pollinated Arum maculatum from various populations north vs. south of the Alps, the highest number so far reported in a single plant species. Scent and fruit set differed between regions, and some, but not all differences in scent could be explained by differential phenotypic selection in northern vs. southern populations. Our study is the first to provide evidence that phenotypic selection is involved in shaping geographic patterns of floral scent in deceptive plants. The hyperdiverse scent of A. maculatum might result from the plant’s imitation of various brood substrates of its pollinators.
Original languageEnglish
JournalFrontiers in Plant Science
Volume2021
Issue number12:719092.
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 Apr 2021

Fields of Science and Technology Classification 2012

  • 106 Biology

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