Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/ https://doi.org/10.2...arrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos Open Access logo, converted into svg, designed by PLoS. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Open_Access_logo_PLoS_white.svg art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina, Beao, JakobVoss, and AnonMoos http://www.plos.org/
https://doi.org/10.22541/au.16...
Article . 2020 . Peer-reviewed
Data sources: Crossref
versions View all 1 versions
addClaim

Odor of the achlorophyllous plant's seeds induce the seed-dispersing ants

Authors: Mikihisa Yamada; Masaru Hojo; Akio Imamura;

Odor of the achlorophyllous plant's seeds induce the seed-dispersing ants

Abstract

Seed dispersal by ants is one of the important means of migration for adherent plants. Although many myrmecochorous plants have seed with elaiosome which is nutritional reward for ants, some seeds without elaiosomes are also dispersed by ant species. We tested seed dispersal by ants using the achlorophyllous and myco-heterotrophic herbaceous plant Monotropastrum humile, whose seeds do not have elaiosome, and require a fungal host for germination and ultimately survival. We performed a bioassay using seeds of M. humile and the ant, Nylanderia flavipes, to demonstrate ant-mediated seed dispersal. We also analyzed the volatile odors emitted from M. humile seeds, and conducted bioassays using dummy seeds coated with seed volatiles. Although elaiosomes were absent from the M. humile seeds, the ants carried them to their nest. They also carried the dummy seeds coated with the seed volatile mixture to the nest, and left some dummy seeds inside the nest and discarded the rest of the dummy seeds outside the nest with a bias towards locations with moisture conditions conducive to germination. We concluded that seeds of the myco-heterotrophic, herbaceous species were dispersed by the ants, and that seed odors were sufficient to induce directed dispersal even without elaiosomes. The flesh-fruit producing genus Monotropastrum have probably evolved from the related anemochorous genus Monotropa, which produces capsule fruit. This transformation from anemochory to myrmecochory, presents a novel evolutionary pathway towards ant-mediated seed dispersal in an achlorophyllous plant.

  • BIP!
    Impact byBIP!
    selected citations
    These citations are derived from selected sources.
    This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    0
    popularity
    This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
    Average
    impulse
    This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
    Average
Powered by OpenAIRE graph
Found an issue? Give us feedback
selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Related to Research communities