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Metabolomic Profiling of Nicotiana Spp. Nectars Indicate That Pollinator Feeding Preference Is a Stronger Determinant Than Plant Phylogenetics in Shaping Nectar Diversity
Metabolites
  • Fredy A. Silva, Iowa State University
  • Elizabeth C. Chatt, Iowa State University
  • Siti-Nabilla Mahalim, Iowa State University
  • Adel Guirgis, Iowa State University
  • Xingche Guo, Iowa State University
  • Dan S. Nettleton, Iowa State University
  • Basil J. Nikolau, Iowa State University
  • Robert W. Thornburg, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
5-22-2020
DOI
10.3390/metabo10050214
Abstract

Floral nectar is a rich secretion produced by the nectary gland and is offered as reward to attract pollinators leading to improved seed set. Nectars are composed of a complex mixture of sugars, amino acids, proteins, vitamins, lipids, organic and inorganic acids. This composition is influenced by several factors, including floral morphology, mechanism of nectar secretion, time of flowering, and visitation by pollinators. The objective of this study was to determine the contributions of flowering time, plant phylogeny, and pollinator selection on nectar composition in Nicotiana. The main classes of nectar metabolites (sugars and amino acids) were quantified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analytical platforms to identify differences among fifteen Nicotiana species representing day- and night-flowering plants from ten sections of the genus that are visited by five different primary pollinators. The nectar metabolomes of different Nicotiana species can predict the feeding preferences of the target pollinator(s) of each species, and the nectar sugars (i.e., glucose, fructose, and sucrose) are a distinguishing feature of Nicotiana species phylogeny. Moreover, comparative statistical analysis indicate that pollinators are a stronger determinant of nectar composition than plant phylogeny.

Comments

This article is published as Silva, Fredy A., Elizabeth C. Chatt, Siti-Nabilla Mahalim, Adel Guirgis, Xingche Guo, Daniel S. Nettleton, Basil J. Nikolau, and Robert W. Thornburg. "Metabolomic Profiling of Nicotiana Spp. Nectars Indicate That Pollinator Feeding Preference Is a Stronger Determinant Than Plant Phylogenetics in Shaping Nectar Diversity." Metabolites 10 (2020): 214. doi: 10.3390/metabo10050214.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
The Authors
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Fredy A. Silva, Elizabeth C. Chatt, Siti-Nabilla Mahalim, Adel Guirgis, et al.. "Metabolomic Profiling of Nicotiana Spp. Nectars Indicate That Pollinator Feeding Preference Is a Stronger Determinant Than Plant Phylogenetics in Shaping Nectar Diversity" Metabolites Vol. 10 Iss. 5 (2020) p. 214
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/dan-nettleton/134/