Evolution and classification of figs (Ficus, Moraceae) and their close relatives (Castilleae) united by involucral bracts

Abstract Figs and fig wasps are a classic example of an obligate pollination mutualism. Decades of work untangling the ecology and evolution of these organisms has simultaneously contributed to development of the fields of mutualism, coevolution and plant–insect interactions at large. With > 800 species, figs (Ficus, Moraceae) are among some of the larger genera of angiosperms. Phylogenetic studies of Moraceae have supported the clade Castilleae as the sister lineage of Ficus. Compared to Ficus, Castilleae have many fewer species (60 species in 11 genera), suggesting changes in rates of diversification along these two branches. Relatively little is known about Castilleae compared to Ficus, and we argue that defining the clade comprising Ficus and Castilleae, hereafter Involucrata, focuses attention on opportunities for comparative studies of pollination mutualisms and diversification rates. In this study, we define Involucrata and propose a revised classification scheme that accounts for the phylogenetic reconstruction based on the most comprehensive sampling of this group to date. Moving forward, this classification will better guide and support evolutionary, ecological and comparative pollination biology studies of this group.

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Chemical signal is in the blend: bases of plant-pollinator encounter in a highly specialized interaction

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-66655-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Magali Proffit ◽

Benoit Lapeyre ◽

Bruno Buatois ◽

Xiaoxia Deng ◽

Pierre Arnal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pollinator Attraction ◽

Plant Insect Interactions ◽

Electrophysiological Tests ◽

Plant Recognition ◽

Pollination Mutualism ◽

Volatile Organic ◽

Small Change ◽

Insect Interactions ◽

Behavioural Tests ◽

Plant Pollinator

Abstract In several highly specialized plant-insect interactions, scent-mediated specificity of pollinator attraction is directed by the emission and detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Although some plants engaged in such interactions emit singular compounds, others emit mixtures of VOCs commonly emitted by plants. We investigated the chemical ecological bases of host plant recognition in the nursery pollination mutualism between the dioecious Ficus carica and its specific pollinator Blastophaga psenes. Using Y-tube olfactometer tests, we show that B. psenes females are attracted by VOCs of receptive figs of both sexes and do not exhibit preference for VOCs of either male or female figs. Electrophysiological tests and chemical analysis revealed that of all the VOCs emitted by receptive figs, only five were found to be active on female antennae. Behavioural tests show that, in contrast to VOCs presented alone, only a blend with a particular proportion of four of these VOCs is as attractive as the odour of receptive figs, and that if there is a very small change in this blend proportion, the pollinator is no longer attracted. This study revealed that in highly specialized mutualistic interactions specificity could be mediated by a particular blend of common compounds emitted by plants.

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Exploring plant responses to aphid feeding using a fullArabidopsismicroarray reveals a small number of genes with significantly altered expression

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485307005160 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 97 (5) ◽

pp. 523-532 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

C. Couldridge ◽

H.J. Newbury ◽

B. Ford-Lloyd ◽

J. Bale ◽

J. Pritchard

Keyword(s):

Plant Responses ◽

Cell Wall Modification ◽

Altered Expression ◽

Plant Insect Interactions ◽

Number Of Genes ◽

Aphid Feeding ◽

Insect Interactions ◽

Number Of Classes ◽

Time Point

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine whichArabidopsis thaliana(L.) genes had significantly altered expression following 2–36 h of infestation by the aphidMyzus persicae(Sulzer). Six biological replicates were performed for both control and treatment at each time point, allowing rigorous statistical analysis of any changes. Only two genes showed altered expression after 2 h (one up- and one down-regulated) while two were down-regulated and twenty three were up-regulated at 36 h. The transcript annotation allowed classification of the significantly altered genes into a number of classes, including those involved in cell wall modification, carbon metabolism and signalling. Additionally, a number of genes were implicated in oxidative stress and defence against other pathogens. Five genes could not currently be assigned any function. The changes in gene expression are discussed in relation to current models of plant-insect interactions.

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Averting robo-bees: why free-flying robotic bees are a bad idea

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20190063 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (6) ◽

pp. 723-729

Author(s):

Roslyn Gleadow ◽

Jim Hanan ◽

Alan Dorin

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Computer Simulation ◽

Food Security ◽

European Countries ◽

Plant Interactions ◽

Plant Insect Interactions ◽

Native Habitat ◽

Insect Pollinators ◽

Insect Interactions

Food security and the sustainability of native ecosystems depends on plant-insect interactions in countless ways. Recently reported rapid and immense declines in insect numbers due to climate change, the use of pesticides and herbicides, the introduction of agricultural monocultures, and the destruction of insect native habitat, are all potential contributors to this grave situation. Some researchers are working towards a future where natural insect pollinators might be replaced with free-flying robotic bees, an ecologically problematic proposal. We argue instead that creating environments that are friendly to bees and exploring the use of other species for pollination and bio-control, particularly in non-European countries, are more ecologically sound approaches. The computer simulation of insect-plant interactions is a far more measured application of technology that may assist in managing, or averting, ‘Insect Armageddon' from both practical and ethical viewpoints.

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Effects of land-use change and altitudinal variation on the outcome of plant-insect interactions in agricultural systems

10.1603/ice.2016.95284 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Katja Poveda

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Land Use Change ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Altitudinal Variation ◽

Plant Insect Interactions ◽

Insect Interactions ◽

Effects Of Land Use

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Leaf Demography and Plant-Insect Interactions: Goldenrods and Phloem-Feeding Aphids

The American Naturalist ◽

10.1086/284258 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 124 (1) ◽

pp. 137-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

D. C. Hartnett ◽

F. A. Bazzaz

Keyword(s):

Leaf Demography ◽

Plant Insect Interactions ◽

Insect Interactions ◽

Phloem Feeding

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Southern high latitude plant-insect interactions from the Miocene of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

International Journal of Plant Sciences ◽

10.1086/714285 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria A. Gandolfo ◽

Maria C. Zamaloa

Keyword(s):

High Latitude ◽

Tierra Del Fuego ◽

Plant Insect Interactions ◽

Insect Interactions ◽

Southern High Latitude

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Plant Metabolites Involved in the Differential Development of a Heliantheae-Specialist Insect

Metabolites ◽

10.3390/metabo11030134 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 134

Author(s):

Marília Elias Gallon ◽

Leonardo Gobbo-Neto

Keyword(s):

Larval Development ◽

Sesquiterpene Lactones ◽

Nutritional Ecology ◽

Plant Metabolites ◽

Plant Insect Interactions ◽

Tridax Procumbens ◽

Integrative Studies ◽

Specialist Insect ◽

Insect Interactions ◽

New Research

Balanced nutritional intake is essential to ensure that insects undergo adequate larval development and metamorphosis. Integrative multidisciplinary approaches have contributed valuable insights regarding the ecological and evolutionary outcomes of plant–insect interactions. To address the plant metabolites involved in the larval development of a specialist insect, we investigated the development of Chlosyne lacinia caterpillars fed on Heliantheae species (Tithonia diversifolia, Tridax procumbens and Aldama robusta) leaves and determined the chemical profile of plants and insects using a metabolomic approach. By means of LC-MS and GC-MS combined analyses, 51 metabolites were putatively identified in Heliantheae species and C. lacinia caterpillars and frass; these metabolites included flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, diterpenes, triterpenes, oxygenated terpene derivatives, steroids and lipid derivatives. The leading discriminant metabolites were diterpenes, which were detected only in A. robusta leaves and insects that were fed on this plant-based diet. Additionally, caterpillars fed on A. robusta leaves took longer to complete their development to the adult phase and exhibited a greater diapause rate. Hence, we hypothesized that diterpenes may be involved in the differential larval development. Our findings shed light on the plant metabolites that play roles in insect development and metabolism, opening new research avenues for integrative studies of insect nutritional ecology.

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