Seed Elaiosome Mediates Dispersal by Ants and Impacts Germination in Ricinus communis
Myrmecochory is the ant-mediated secondary dispersal of seeds that depends on the presence of a lipid-rich seed appendage known as “elaiosome.” Attractive cues of elaiosomes that drive such an interaction and benefits to the plant are not clearly understood. Here, using Ricinus communis, we establis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2019.00246/full |
| _version_ | 1818893239771463680 |
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| author | Rohit Sasidharan Radhika Venkatesan |
| author_facet | Rohit Sasidharan Radhika Venkatesan |
| author_sort | Rohit Sasidharan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Myrmecochory is the ant-mediated secondary dispersal of seeds that depends on the presence of a lipid-rich seed appendage known as “elaiosome.” Attractive cues of elaiosomes that drive such an interaction and benefits to the plant are not clearly understood. Here, using Ricinus communis, we establish reward compositions and determine the benefits of myrmecochory to the plant. We also compare elaiosome compositions across ecotypes. Our results show that the elaiosome is essential for seed displacement and olfactory cues are important attractive cues. Nonanal and 2-decenal were found to be the major attractive volatiles in the castor elaiosome. Different ant species showed different behaviors toward elaiosome-bearing seeds. Among them, Pheidole grayi was efficient in dispersal but did not disperse all seed ecotypes tested. Major differences in fatty acid levels were observed between ecotypes. To determine the benefits of myrmecochory, germination rates before and after removal of elaiosome were studied. Seed germination improved upon elaiosome removal and aqueous elaiosome extract inhibited germination indicating water-soluble inhibitory factors. Further, ant nest sites were richer in nitrogen than control sites, revealing a clear benefit of seed displacement. In summary, we demonstrate the ecological significance of the seed elaiosomes in the absence of nutritive rewards for seed dispersers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T18:09:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-208eb7f7027a46fd97d07ceaaa162291 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T18:09:27Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-208eb7f7027a46fd97d07ceaaa1622912022-12-21T20:11:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2019-06-01710.3389/fevo.2019.00246452977Seed Elaiosome Mediates Dispersal by Ants and Impacts Germination in Ricinus communisRohit SasidharanRadhika VenkatesanMyrmecochory is the ant-mediated secondary dispersal of seeds that depends on the presence of a lipid-rich seed appendage known as “elaiosome.” Attractive cues of elaiosomes that drive such an interaction and benefits to the plant are not clearly understood. Here, using Ricinus communis, we establish reward compositions and determine the benefits of myrmecochory to the plant. We also compare elaiosome compositions across ecotypes. Our results show that the elaiosome is essential for seed displacement and olfactory cues are important attractive cues. Nonanal and 2-decenal were found to be the major attractive volatiles in the castor elaiosome. Different ant species showed different behaviors toward elaiosome-bearing seeds. Among them, Pheidole grayi was efficient in dispersal but did not disperse all seed ecotypes tested. Major differences in fatty acid levels were observed between ecotypes. To determine the benefits of myrmecochory, germination rates before and after removal of elaiosome were studied. Seed germination improved upon elaiosome removal and aqueous elaiosome extract inhibited germination indicating water-soluble inhibitory factors. Further, ant nest sites were richer in nitrogen than control sites, revealing a clear benefit of seed displacement. In summary, we demonstrate the ecological significance of the seed elaiosomes in the absence of nutritive rewards for seed dispersers.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2019.00246/fullelaiosomemyrmecochoryplant-ant interactionsRicinus communisseed dispersalseed germination |
| spellingShingle | Rohit Sasidharan Radhika Venkatesan Seed Elaiosome Mediates Dispersal by Ants and Impacts Germination in Ricinus communis Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution elaiosome myrmecochory plant-ant interactions Ricinus communis seed dispersal seed germination |
| title | Seed Elaiosome Mediates Dispersal by Ants and Impacts Germination in Ricinus communis |
| title_full | Seed Elaiosome Mediates Dispersal by Ants and Impacts Germination in Ricinus communis |
| title_fullStr | Seed Elaiosome Mediates Dispersal by Ants and Impacts Germination in Ricinus communis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seed Elaiosome Mediates Dispersal by Ants and Impacts Germination in Ricinus communis |
| title_short | Seed Elaiosome Mediates Dispersal by Ants and Impacts Germination in Ricinus communis |
| title_sort | seed elaiosome mediates dispersal by ants and impacts germination in ricinus communis |
| topic | elaiosome myrmecochory plant-ant interactions Ricinus communis seed dispersal seed germination |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fevo.2019.00246/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT rohitsasidharan seedelaiosomemediatesdispersalbyantsandimpactsgerminationinricinuscommunis AT radhikavenkatesan seedelaiosomemediatesdispersalbyantsandimpactsgerminationinricinuscommunis |