KACZOROWSKI, RAINEE* and TIM HOLTSFORD. 105 Tucker Hall, UMC, Columbia, MO 65211. - Are nectar traits associated with pollination syndrome in wild tobaccos (Nicotiana, Solanaceae)?
Nicotiana, section Alatae is a monophyletic group which
contains seven species with at least three pollination syndromes. The
pollinators that visit these plants have been documented. Hawkmoths
are the primary pollinators of the long-tubed, white flowers, small
perching moths are the primary pollinators of the short-tubed, white
flowers, and hummingbirds are the primary pollinators of the
short-tubed, colored flowers. Nectar is the primary floral reward
supplied by plants to attract pollinators. Previous research has found
correlations between pollinator type and nectar characteristics. My
poster presents preliminary data on nectar volume and sugar
concentration at different flower ages for all seven species. These
data are correlated to the different pollination syndromes exhibited
by these Nicotiana. Preliminary results show that
hummingbird-pollinated flowers have a lower nectar volume with higher
sugar concentration than the hawkmoth-pollinated flowers. The small
moth-pollinated flowers have only trace amounts of nectar, which leads
us to believe that there may be other rewards associated with these
flowers. These results are currently being validated. Analysis of
sugar constituents, amino acid constituents and amino acid
concentration is ongoing.
Key words: nectar, Nicotiana, pollinators