Making the most of your pollinators: An epiphytic fig tree encourages its pollinators to roam between figs.

ABSTRACT: Ficus species are characterized by their unusual enclosed inflorescences (figs) and their relationship with obligate pollinator fig wasps (Agaonidae). Fig trees have a variety of growth forms, but true epiphytes are rare, and one example is Ficus deltoidea of Southeast Asia. Presumably as an adaptation to epiphytism, inflorescence design in this species is exceptional, with very few flowers in female (seed-producing) figs and unusually large seeds. Figs on male (pollinator offspring-generating) trees have many more flowers. Many fig wasps pollinate one fig each, but because of the low number of flowers per fig, efficient utilization by F. deltoidea's pollinators depends on pollinators entering several female figs. We hypothesized that it is in the interest of the plant

SUBMITTER: Mohd Hatta SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8207429 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature