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Nectar production dynamics and sugar composition in two Mucuna species (Leguminosae, Faboideae) with different specialized pollinators

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Abstract

Nectar is secreted in particular rhythms throughout the lifespan of a flower, which allows determining the nectar production dynamics. This paper compares nectar features in Mucuna japira and Mucuna urens describing: dynamics of nectar production, floral response to nectar removal, resorption, nectar sugar composition, and variation in nectar sugar composition. M. japira inflorescence bears 12–21 yellow flowers, which are in anthesis for 7 days, whereas M. urens inflorescence bears 36–54 greenish flowers, but only 1–3 flowers are in anthesis simultaneously that last one night. Nectar volume and sugar concentration were measured, and the amount of sugar was estimated. Qualitative and quantitative nectar sugar composition was determined. Both species had a constant nectar sugar concentration (ca. 10% for M. japira and ca. 16% for M. urens) and secreted high volumes of nectar (ca. 340 μl per flower for M. japira and 310 μl per flower for M. urens), during 5 days for M. japira and 6 h for M. urens, but after the first removal, i.e., when flower opening mechanism is triggered, nectar production stops immediately. Nectar resorption occurred in both species. Nectar sugar composition showed some similarities between the species. Variation in nectar sugar composition occurred in both species. The Mucuna species are dependent on their pollinators to produce fruits and seeds, and they have different strategies to promote the necessary interaction with birds or bats, especially related to nectar and flower characteristics.

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Acknowledgements

We thank four anonymous reviewers for their constructive criticisms that improved a previous version of this paper, the Instituto Florestal (Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, Núcleo Picinguaba) for the permit to study pollination biology in protected public lands, Iara Bressan for technical help in the laboratory and Dewey Litwiller for English review. KA had a grant of FAPESP, MS has research grants from CNPq, and LG is a researcher from CONICET. This research was mainly supported by the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) as part of the Thematic Project Functional Gradient (Process Number 03/12595-7), within the BIOTA/FAPESP Program—The Biodiversity Virtual Institute (www.biota.org.br). COTEC/IF 41.065/2005 and IBAMA/CGEN 093/2005 permits. CONICET, SECyT (UNC), FONCYT, CAPES-SPU for additional financial support.

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  1. Kayna Agostini

    Present address: Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba, Rodovia do Açúcar, km 156, 13400-911, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Instituto de Biologia, Caixa Postal 6109, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Kayna Agostini

  2. Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Instituto de Biologia, Caixa Postal 6109, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, 13083-970, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Marlies Sazima

  3. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (UNC-CONICET), Casilla de Correo 495, 5000, Córdoba, Argentina

    Leonardo Galetto

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  1. Kayna Agostini
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  2. Marlies Sazima
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  3. Leonardo Galetto
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Correspondence to Kayna Agostini.

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Communicated by: Sven Thatje

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Agostini, K., Sazima, M. & Galetto, L. Nectar production dynamics and sugar composition in two Mucuna species (Leguminosae, Faboideae) with different specialized pollinators. Naturwissenschaften 98, 933 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-011-0844-6

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