The role of flowering plants, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Crotalaria juncea in coffee ecosystem to diversity of insect pollinators and coffee fruit set

AbstractIt is widely known that during the reproductive stage (flowering), plants do not root well. Most protocols of shoot regeneration in plants utilize juvenile tissue. Adding these two realities together encouraged us to study the role of florigen in shoot regeneration. Mature tobacco tissue that expresses the endogenous tobacco florigen mRNA regenerates poorly, while juvenile tissue that does not express the florigen regenerates shoots well. Inhibition of Nitric Oxide (NO) synthesis reduced shoot regeneration as well as promoted flowering and increased tobacco florigen level. In contrast, the addition of NO (by way of NO donor) to the tissue increased regeneration, delayed flowering, reduced tobacco florigen mRNA. Ectopic expression of florigen genes in tobacco or tomato decreased regeneration capacity significantly. Overexpression pear PcFT2 gene increased regeneration capacity. During regeneration, florigen mRNA was not changed. We conclude that florigen presence in mature tobacco leaves reduces roots and shoots regeneration and is the possible reason for the age-related decrease in regeneration capacity.

Download Full-text

Floral Resources Sustaining African Meliponine Bee Species (Hymenoptera: Meliponini) in a Fragile Habitat of Kenya

Journal of Biology and Life Science ◽

10.5296/jbls.v8i1.10127 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 42 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bridget O. Bobadoye ◽

Paul N. Ndegwa ◽

Lucy Irungu ◽

Fombong Ayuka ◽

Robert Kajobe

Keyword(s):

Flowering Phenology ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Flowering Plant ◽

Floral Resources ◽

Habitat Gradients ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Taita Hills ◽

Insect Pollinators ◽

Diverse Habitat

A vast majority of insects visit flowers for food, generally termed as floral rewards. Detailed insights on flowering phenology of plants could give a hint of habitat status and the extent to which such landscapes could support insect pollinators to render both direct and indirect ecosystem services. This study monitored flowering plants which could potentially provide both pollen and nectar sources to four African meliponine bee species (Apidae: Meliponini) naturally occurring in six diverse habitat gradients of the eastern arc mountains (Taita hills) of Kenya. Blooming sequences of identified flowering plants overlapped across seasons with approximately 80 different plant species belonging to 34 families recorded, with the highest proportions from Fabaceae and Asteraceae families dominating flowering plants that were visited (67% of the visits). A flowering calendar is presented to indicate the phenological pattern of all identified floral resources. Hypotrigona gribodoi being the most abundant species had the highest visitation rates on plants belonging to Fabaceae and Asteraceae families, followed by Meliponula ferruginea (black), Plebeina hildebrandti and Hypotrigona ruspolii. This indicates that such fragile habitat could invariably sustain nutritional requirements essential for the survival of insect pollinators such as native meliponine bee species, though bee abundance at flowers did not significantly correlate to food availability (expressed by flowering plant richness).

Download Full-text

PERANAN TUMBUHAN LIAR DALAM KONSERVASI SERANGGA PENYERBUK ORDO HYMENOPTERA

Jurnal Teknologi Lingkungan ◽

10.29122/jtl.v10i2.1492 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 195

Author(s):

Erniwati Erniwati ◽

Sih Kahono

Keyword(s):

Flowering Time ◽

Food Resources ◽

Wild Plants ◽

Cultivated Plants ◽

Applied Study ◽

Insect Pollinators ◽

Cultivated Plant ◽

Dry Seasons

The role of the wild plants in relation to the conservation of the Indonesian insectpollinators was studied at several areas of Java. Three of direct observationmethods were applied: study of biodiversity and observation on the wild flowersand the insect pollinators as well, and the behaviour of the insects. The flowersof wild plants were relatively smaller and paler in colour, however they were moreattractive to insect pollinators than cultivated plants. Flowering time of the wildplants was mostly during wet seasons, contrary to that of the cultivated plantswhich was mostly during dry seasons. Our observation indicated that these wildplants are the food resources of insect pollinators during wet seasons. Observationdata support the importance of wild plants to supply food to insect pollinatorsduring wet seasons. Management of wild and cultivated plant environments isnecessary to conserve insect pollinators.

Download Full-text

Florivory and sex ratio in Annona dioica St. Hil. (Annonaceae) in the Pantanal at Nhecolândia, southwestern Brazil

Acta Botanica Brasilica ◽

10.1590/s0102-33062006000200015 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

pp. 405-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hipólito Ferreira Paulino Neto ◽

Reinaldo Chaves Teixeira

Keyword(s):

Sex Ratio ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

The Mean ◽

Male Flowers

Annona dioica St. Hil. is a species that grows to approximately 2 m tall and is very widespread in the cerrados. Individual plants of this androdioecious species produce numerous hermaphroditic or male flowers, but few fruits. The aim of this study was to determine the sex ratio among the plants and to compare the frequency of herbivory between male and hermaphroditic flowers. The fieldwork was done by studying flowering plants in grasslands used as pasture for cattle at Fazenda Nhumirim. One hundred and forty-seven male plants and 71 hermaphroditic plants were examined and produced a total of 194 and 94 flowers, respectively, during the study period. The male:hermaphrodite sex ratio was 2.07:1, and was similar to the male:hermaphrodite flower ratio of 2.06:1. The frequency of florivory rate in hermaphrodites was significantly higher than in male flowers (33.0%, n = 31, and 25.7%, n = 50, respectively; G = 14.83; d.f. = 1; p < 0.001). The mean fresh weights of male and hermaphroditic flowers were significantly different (8.38 ± 2.40 g vs. 6.93 ± 2.68 g, respectively; 0 ± SEM; n = 50 each; t = 2.479; d.f. = 49; p = 0.017). These results indicate that the low fruit set in this species can be explained by the sex ratio, the greater herbivory of hermaphroditic flowers and the probable absence of pollinators.

Download Full-text

ON THE ROLE OF ETHYLENE IN APPLE FRUIT SET

Acta Horticulturae ◽

10.17660/actahortic.1981.120.50 ◽

1981 ◽

pp. 257-257

Author(s):

M. Rahemi ◽

F.G. Dennis Jr

Keyword(s):

Fruit Set ◽

Apple Fruit

Download Full-text

Coffee plant – pollinator interactions: a review

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z11-028 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 89 (8) ◽

pp. 647-660 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

H.T. Ngo ◽

A.C. Mojica ◽

L. Packer

Keyword(s):

Fruit Set ◽

Current Understanding ◽

Current Status ◽

Agricultural Crops ◽

Coffee Plant ◽

Coffee Plants ◽

Plant Pollinator

Coffee (genus Coffea L.) is one of the most critical global agricultural crops. Many studies have focused on coffee plants and their associated insects. This review will summarize work specifically relating to coffee plant – pollinator interactions. We review the current status of coffee as a worldwide commodity, botanical aspects of coffee, and insects associated with coffee pollination, and we assess the current understanding of the role of different pollinator taxa in increasing fruit set and yield.

Download Full-text

Pollination biology of fruit-bearing hedgerow plants and the role of flower-visiting insects in fruit-set

Annals of Botany ◽

10.1093/aob/mcp236 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 104 (7) ◽

pp. 1397-1404 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Jennifer H. Jacobs ◽

Suzanne J. Clark ◽

Ian Denholm ◽

Dave Goulson ◽

Chris Stoate ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruit Set ◽

Pollination Biology ◽

Flower Visiting

Download Full-text

Plant-level fecundity and andromonoecy in three common (Melaleuca styphelioides, M. thymifolia, M. nodosa) and one rare (M. deanei) Melaleuca (Myrtaceae) species of the Sydney region

Australian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1071/bt14081 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 276 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alison Hewitt ◽

Paul Holford ◽

Adrian Renshaw ◽

Anthony Haigh ◽

E. Charles Morris

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Performance ◽

Fruit Set ◽

Seed Set ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Common Species ◽

Flowering Plants ◽

Breeding Systems ◽

Small Populations ◽

Small Field ◽

Plant Level

This paper reports plant-level measures of reproductive performance from large and small field populations of the vulnerable species Melaleuca deanei F.Meull. compared with three common species within the genus: Melaleuca nodosa (Sol. ex Gaertn.) Sm., Melaleuca thymifolia Sm. and Melaleuca styphelioides Sm. Measures reported include average seed numbers per capsule and per plant; average fruit loads per plant; the proportion of buds that become flowers and thence fruits (fruit set); the number of ovules per flower and seed : ovule ratios (seed set); and floral morphologies. Results indicate that when M. deanei flowers, bud to flower ratios and flower to fruit ratios are not reduced compared with the congeners or between large and small populations. Seed loads per plant held by fruiting plants were comparable between the species and between large and small populations of M. deanei. Seed to ovule ratios were in the order of 5–9% in M. nodosa; 5–7% in M. styphelioides; 7–10% in M. deanei; and 12–15% in M. thymifolia. Larval herbivory of ovules was recorded in M. nodosa and pre-dispersal seed predation noted in M. thymifolia. Andromonoecy was recorded in two of the species at rates of 0.9–3.1% (M. deanei) and 2.9–7% (M. thymifolia). Results suggest that seed production within smaller populations of M. deanei is poor because of a low frequency of flowering and a low proportion of flowering plants per population, rather than plant-level pollination, fruit- or seed-set barriers. Further study is needed to determine the triggers to flowering, the breeding systems, the extent of clonality and the germination and establishment requirements in these species.

Download Full-text

The cytosolic invertase NI6 affects vegetative growth, flowering, fruit set and yield in tomato

Journal of Experimental Botany ◽

10.1093/jxb/eraa594 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Carla Coluccio Leskow ◽

Mariana Conte ◽

Talia del Pozo ◽

Luisa Bermúdez ◽

Bruno Silvestre Lira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruit Set ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Sugar Metabolism ◽

Global Gene Expression ◽

Metabolite Profile ◽

Mesophyll Cells ◽

Network Analyses ◽

Encoding Gene ◽

Delayed Flowering

Abstract Sucrose metabolism is of high importance for most plant species, both as the main source of carbon and via signaling mechanisms that have been proposed for this molecule. Two cleaving enzymes channel sucrose into sink metabolism; sucrose synthases (SUS) and invertases (INV), which are localized in different subcellular compartments. Although acid soluble and insoluble invertases have been largely investigated, studies on the role of neutral invertases (A/N-INV) have lagged behind. Here, we identified a tomato A/N-INV encoding gene (NI6) co-localizing with a previously reported pathway QTL largely affecting primary carbon metabolism in tomato. Of the eight A/N-INV genes identified in the tomato genome, NI6 mRNA is present in all organs, but its expression was higher in sink tissues (mainly roots and fruits). A NI6-GFP fusion protein was found in the cytosol of mesophyll cells. Tomato NI6-silenced plants showed impaired growth phenotypes, delayed flowering and dramatic reduction in the fruit set. Global gene expression and metabolite profile analyses of these plants revealed that NI6 is not only essential for sugar metabolism but also plays a signaling role in stress adaptation. Gene-metabolite network analyses allowed identification of major hubs, whose expression patterns were greatly affected by NI6 silencing, within the signaling cascade that coordinates carbohydrate metabolism with growth and development in tomato.

Download Full-text