Annals of botany最新文献

{"title":"Revisiting the enigmatic Cheirolepidiaceae: origins, phylogenetic relationships, and a new whole-plant concept.","authors":"Ana Andruchow-Colombo, Kelly K S Matsunaga","doi":"10.1093/aob/mcag069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>The extinct conifer family Cheirolepidiaceae spanned from the Late Triassic to early Paleocene and was worldwide distributed. While it is known from multiple organs, there are no Cheirolepidiaceae whole plant reconstructions to date. The relationships of Cheirolepidiaceae with different plant groups have been extensively discussed in literature, but their phylogenetic position has not been thoroughly explored. To fill these gaps, we studied seed cones associated with other Cheirolepidiaceae organ remains from the Early Cretaceous of Arkansas and investigated their phylogenetic position.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We studied previously collected fossil remains from the Holly Creek Formation and included them in total-evidence phylogenetic analyses with other Cheirolepidiaceae species and representatives of all major living and extinct conifer groups. We performed a time-calibrated Bayesian analysis under the FBD model and sixty Maximum Parsimony analyses varying search conditions.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>We describe Arkansia axsmithii sp. nov. based on seed cones and isolated ovuliferous complexes associated with previously described wood, leafy shoots, pollen cones, and pollen. We separated the associated vegetative material into Pseudofrenelopsis axsmithii sp. nov. Our phylogenetic analyses most frequently show the Cheirolepidiaceae as sister to the crown group of conifers, and more rarely as sister to Araucariales, Cupressales+Araucariales, or Araucaria. In some cases, Pararaucaria is recovered outside of Cheirolepidiaceae. We estimated ages of Carboniferous for the divergence of conifers and Cordaitales, and Late Triassic for the initial diversifications of Cheirolepidiaceae, and the conifer crown group.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Arkansia plant constitutes the most completely known Cheirolepidiaceae plant to date. Our phylogenetic analyses support Cheirolepidiaceae as a transitional lineage between voltzialean and living conifers, reflected in their ovuliferous complex morphology, which shows intermediate traits between voltziacean voltzialeans and extant taxa. Age estimates of deep nodes of conifer phylogeny are broadly congruent with the fossil record, suggesting a long-lasting stem group and an origin of crown-group conifers in the Late Triassic.</p>","PeriodicalId":8023,"journal":{"name":"Annals of botany","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147571887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Intra-individual variation in pollen availability: An experimental analysis of its impact on plant-pollinator interactions.","authors":"Fernando González-Almansa Laredo, Lilian Rodrigues Ferreira de Melo, Mario Vallejo-Marín","doi":"10.1093/aob/mcag073","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag073","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Intra-individual variation in the quantity and quality of floral rewards can affect pollinator foraging and plant fitness. Few studies have examined how this variation affects pollinator behaviour, particularly in pollen-rewarding plants.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We quantified intra-individual variation in pollen production in two nectarless species (Solanum sisymbriifolium and S. rostratum), in which pollen is concealed inside poricidal anthers. Then, for one of these species (S. rostratum), we manipulated pollen availability creating plants with increased intra-individual variation (three flowers with high, natural levels, and no pollen) or plants with natural levels of variation (three flowers with natural pollen levels). We simultaneously exposed both treatments to bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) recording visitation and buzzing behaviour.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>Natural intra-individual variation in pollen production was high, with 46-58% of the variation attributable to differences among flowers of the same plant, and coefficients of variation of 14% - 23%. Analysis of foraging patterns capturing more than 2,500 visits and 9,700 buzzing events showed that bumblebees performed fewer and shorter buzzing visits on pollen-less flowers, while they were more likely remain on a plant after visiting higher-reward flowers, potentially reducing outcrossing opportunities. These flower-level responses did not scale up to the plant-level. Contrary to our expectations and to previous work in nectar-rewarding systems, plants in both variation treatments received visits in similar quantity and quality.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings suggest that B. terrestris can detect and respond to differences among flowers in pollen quantity despite high intra-individual variation, but that there is no plant-level effect. As bees respond to individual flowers rather than integrating information at the plant level, the behavioural patterns documented here may help plants buffer fitness consequences of intra-individual variation in pollen rewards, which we show is substantial even at the level of pollen production and is likely exacerbated following visitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":8023,"journal":{"name":"Annals of botany","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147571893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Grazing mediates microclimate effects on lichen performance near its warm-range margin.","authors":"Sonia Merinero, Caroline Greiser, Kristoffer Hylander, Alicia Valdés, Johan Ehrlén","doi":"10.1093/aob/mcag064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag064","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Climate influences species performance and distribution both directly, through physiological constraints, and indirectly, by modulating biotic interactions. However, the relative importance of these pathways remains poorly understood, limiting our ability to predict species responses to environmental change. Here, we investigated how microclimate influences the growth of a cold-adapted lichen both directly and indirectly, through effects on mollusc grazing, and whether these effects differ among populations of different origins.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a transplant experiment using lobes of Peltigera aphthosa collected from five geographically distant populations along a 1200 km latitudinal gradient in Sweden. The lobes were transplanted to 56 forest sites spanning a broad microclimatic gradient in central Sweden, and we monitored their growth and grazing damage for one year. Using piecewise Structural Equation Models, we quantified the direct and indirect effects of microclimate through grazing on lichen growth and assessed whether these effects differed among source populations.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>We found no evidence for direct effects of microclimate on lichen growth. Instead, microclimate indirectly influenced growth through mollusc grazing. Grazing damage increased with warmer temperatures (higher growing degree days) and higher air humidity (lower vapour pressure deficit) during the growing season and grazing reduced lichen growth. While population origin did not affect direct responses to microclimate, populations differed in their susceptibility to grazing.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our study highlights the importance of indirect microclimatic effects mediated by biotic interactions in shaping species performance near its warm-range margin. The absence of direct microclimatic effects, combined with intraspecific variation in susceptibility to grazing, underscores the need to consider both biotic interactions and differences among populations when predicting species responses to climate change. Transplant experiments across microclimatic gradients offer a valuable method to gain insights into the complex interplay between local adaptation and abiotic and biotic factors of species performance.</p>","PeriodicalId":8023,"journal":{"name":"Annals of botany","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147571938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"PagAPX9, an ascorbate peroxidase gene from poplar, promotes growth and enhances drought tolerance in Populus.","authors":"Zhaoyang Tian, Yuangyuang Shang, Yingxin Zhang, Taiyong Ma, Yu Guo, Shuo Song, Zibin Song, Hongling Mo, Kunlin Wang, Yanqiu Zhao, Hongxia Zhang","doi":"10.1093/aob/mcag077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag077","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Drought is widely regarded as a significant abiotic stress restricting the growth of plants via oxidative stress. The ascorbate peroxidase (APX) protein serves a pivotal function in the antioxidant system. However, the function of PagAPX9, a homolog of Arabidopsis thaliana APX1 (AtAPX1), in poplar growth and drought responses remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, the PagAPX9 gene, which was induced by drought stress and specifically expressed in young leaves and stems, was successfully cloned from the hybrid poplar '84K' (Populus alba × Populus glandulosa) and used to generate PagAPX9 overexpression transgenic poplars (PagAPX9 OE). The morphological characteristics were evaluated and the physiological indicators were explored to explore the mechanism by which PagAPX9 OE plants enhance their drought tolerance.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>We found that the PagAPX9 OE lines exhibited promoted high growth and enhanced drought tolerance with better growth performance and fewer wilting symptoms. Physiological analyses showed that PagAPX9 OE had stronger stomatal regulation and higher efficiency in utilizing water, along with enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT) and upregulated expression of antioxidant-related genes. These responses collectively contributed to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and improved reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification under water deficit.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our results showed that PagAPX9 enhanced poplar drought resistance via regulating stomatal behavior and ROS scavenging, and identified it as a valuable genetic resource to enhance woody plant drought resilience.</p>","PeriodicalId":8023,"journal":{"name":"Annals of botany","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147571898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In situ evaluation of artificial selection and assisted gene flow for the advancement of flowering onset in Lupinus angustifolius L. (Fabaceae).","authors":"S Sacristán-Bajo, A García-Fernández, C Lara-Romero, C Poyatos, Rubio Teso, J Morente-López, S Prieto-Benítez, E Torres, J M Iriondo","doi":"10.1093/aob/mcag061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Artificial selection and assisted gene flow represent promising conservation strategies for enhancing species' adaptive capacity under accelerating climate change. We tested the application of artificial selection and assisted gene flow by evaluating progeny performance under field conditions, using Lupinus angustifolius L. (Fabaceae) as a model to advance flowering onset. In previous studies we examined these processes under controlled conditions using seeds that were collected from four wild populations and two contrasting latitudes in Spain. In the artificial selection experiment, we developed two early-flowering selection lines per population over three generations using both selfing and outcrossing. For the assisted gene flow experiment, we created lines from F1 hybrids by crossing northern populations with southern pollen donors, then produced F2 and F3 generations through successive self-pollination. In parallel, control lines were established through three generations of self-crossing, using randomly selected individuals representing 25% of each population. For this study, F3 seeds from these previous experiments were sown in autumn in an in situ common garden under natural conditions, near the original population sites. Measurements of flowering onset and morphological traits revealed contrasting effects depending on the experiment. Artificial selection lines showed no significant phenotypic differentiation from controls across all measured traits, in contrast to previous controlled-environment results. Conversely, assisted gene flow lines exhibited significantly earlier flowering and reduced shoot growth relative to controls, consistent with prior findings under controlled conditions. These results show greater efficacy of assisted gene flow over artificial selection for advancing flowering onset under natural conditions. They also indicate a stable pattern of phenotypic expression for gene flow under natural and more controlled conditions not found in artificial selection.</p>","PeriodicalId":8023,"journal":{"name":"Annals of botany","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cerrado in the Anthropocene: climate changes and anthropogenic pressure already influence plant diversity.","authors":"Juliana Silveira Dos Santos, Priscila Silveira, Edgar L de Lima, Afonso Kempner, Tais Rizzo Moreira, Rosane G Collevatti","doi":"10.1093/aob/mcag072","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Understanding how anthropogenic pressures are altering spatial patterns in plant diversity is essential to delineate public policies for biodiversity conservation. Here, we address the influence of climate and landscape changes, fire frequency and human footprint on the spatial patterns of plant taxonomic and phylogenetic alpha and beta diversity in the Brazilian Cerrado, at large and regional scales.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We accounted for historical environmental factors such as palaeoclimate and topography, and soil characteristics on plant diversity. At large scale, we analysed direct and indirect effects of all predictors on response variables using piecewise structural equation modelling. To address the effects of predictor variables at regional scale, we used geographically weighted regression.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>We found that soil characteristics, climate stability, and current climate are the main drivers of savanna and forest taxonomic and phylogenetic alpha diversity at both large and regional spatial scales. We also found that fire frequency and %agriculture mainly explained savanna and forest taxonomic and phylogenetic alpha and beta diversity at regional scale. Thus, a range of variables influenced plant diversity in different ways across spatial distribution, and at varying spatial scales in Cerrado.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings show that current climate and human pressure are already affecting plant diversity in Cerrado. For design conservation policies to maintain higher Cerrado's plant richness, it is remarkable to consider regional differences, restore habitats at rural properties and watershed levels, and include the different natural vegetation types. Conservation and management planning to mitigate and offset climate and landscape changes due to human influence should include restoration of habitats. Zero forest and savanna cut for agriculture expansion policy in Cerrado is urgent. Unproductive areas can give space for new sustainable production systems or habitat restoration to fill yield gaps and increase carbon stock, landscape connectivity, and wildlife diversity in the biome.</p>","PeriodicalId":8023,"journal":{"name":"Annals of botany","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An optimization of free-hand sectioning of fine roots using fluorescence microscopy.","authors":"Xiaohui Guo, Zhongyue Li, Qiulin Bi, Wen Zhou, Chunzhou Zhao, Qinghong Li, Jiacun Gu, Yan Wang","doi":"10.1093/aob/mcag074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag074","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>High quality histological sections are crucial for observing plant structures. However, traditional procedures involving fixation, dehydration, embedding, clearing and staining are often laborious and time consuming, especially for the tiny fine root samples. Thus, simple, cheap and time-saving methods are necessary.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, improved procedures were proposed for the quick and high-quality sections, including sectioning in soaked rushes (Juncus L.) stems and observation under a fluorescence microscope using DAPI filter, without staining and clearing. This modified method was applied to the fine root sectioning across six woody and five herbaceous species.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>This method allowed effective anatomical observation in both primary and secondary roots, especially for the xylem conduits. It is also worthy to note that the early sectioning practice is essential for the final anatomical observation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This modified method free of chemical reagents and without clearing and staining, provided an optimization for good quality sections and rapid visualization of tiny root anatomy structures.</p>","PeriodicalId":8023,"journal":{"name":"Annals of botany","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-omics analysis elucidates sesquiterpenoid compounds and identifies IrTPS3 as a key multifunctional terpene synthase in roots and rhizomes of Inula racemosa.","authors":"Min Li, Yan Gou, Huachun Sheng, Xiao Luo, Zhengming Yang, Yuan Liu, Xiaoming Bao, Jizhong Zhang, Shaoshan Zhang, Wenbing Li","doi":"10.1093/aob/mcag070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and aims: </strong>Inula racemosa is a rare and endangered medicinal plant, the therapeutic value of which is largely attributed to its sesquiterpenoid compounds. Terpene synthases (TPSs) play a central role in the biosynthesis of these metabolites. However, until now, the diversity of sesquiterpenoids present in I. racemosa, as well as the specific IrTPS enzymes driving their formation, had not been clearly defined.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, a comprehensive metabolomic analysis was conducted to profile the volatile constituents across five distinct tissue types-roots, rhizomes, stems, leaves, and flowers-of I. racemosa. The full-length transcriptome and next-generation transcriptome were employed to identify the IrTPS genes and their expression patterns. In vivo and in vitro enzymatic assays were performed to characterize the functional properties of IrTPS.</p><p><strong>Key results: </strong>A total of 33 sesquiterpenoid compounds were identified, with the majority being newly reported in this species. Notably, these compounds exhibited a preferential accumulation in roots and rhizomes, suggesting that the IrTPS genes responsible for their biosynthesis might also show tissue-specific expression patterns. Transcriptomic data supported this hypothesis, revealing that several IrTPS genes, including IrTPS3 and IrTPS4, were predominantly expressed in root and rhizome tissues. These genes were introduced into a microbial host engineered to produce high levels of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), the key precursor for sesquiterpenoid synthesis. Functional assays demonstrated that only IrTPS3 was capable of converting FPP into a range of sesquiterpenoid products, whereas IrTPS4 showed no catalytic activity under the same conditions.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings support that IrTPS3 is likely the principal enzyme involved in sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis in I. racemosa, providing a foundation for further studies aimed at metabolic engineering and sustainable production of these valuable compounds.</p>","PeriodicalId":8023,"journal":{"name":"Annals of botany","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis reveals that SiGPX1 enhances saline-alkali tolerance in foxtail millet through the glutathione metabolism pathway.","authors":"Xiaoke Zhou, Yun Li, Yanrui Xu, Xiaoying Fan, Fangying Chen, Yucui Han, Shunguo Li, Xiaohu Lin","doi":"10.1093/aob/mcag071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Soil saline-alkalization represents a critical global environmental threat and severely impairs plant physiological processes, causing substantial yield losses and even complete crop failure. It is essential to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying plant saline-alkali tolerance and identify the key genetic determinants for developing stress-tolerant crops, enhancing agricultural productivity on saline-alkali lands, and ensuring ecological sustainability. Foxtail millet is a naturally stress-tolerant crop with exceptionally high drought resistance and adaptability to saline-alkali conditions. This study employed a integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis approach to investigate the mechanisms for salt-alkali (seawater) tolerance in foxtail millet with two genetically distinct varieties, 'Jikegu 3 hao' (JK3; highly saline-alkali tolerant) and 'Baogu 175' (B175; saline-alkali sensitive). Metabolomic profiling identified 1,539 differentially expressed metabolites. JK3 exhibited significant enrichment of key osmoregulators (citric acid, γ-aminobutyric acid, and betaine) for coordinated upregulation of some critical metabolic pathways, including alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, glutathione metabolism, galactose metabolism, and the TCA cycle under saline-alkali stress. Integrated transcriptomic-metabolomic analysis pinpointed glutathione metabolism as the central regulatory pathway for saline-alkali tolerance. Transient silencing of SiGPX1 disrupted cellular ion homeostasis, impaired reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity (indicated by reduced H2O2 clearance), and elevated malondialdehyde accumulation, ultimately resulting in growth retardation under stress conditions. The results indicated that SiGPX1 is a master positive regulator of saline-alkali tolerance in foxtail millet by maintaining redox homeostasis and cellular integrity. This study establishes SiGPX1 as a promising genetic target for precise breeding of saline-alkali tolerant foxtail millet varieties.</p>","PeriodicalId":8023,"journal":{"name":"Annals of botany","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Warming effects on floral volatile organic compounds and plant-pollinator interactions in tropical ecosystems.","authors":"Ibrahim N A Salman, William T Wcislo, Klaus Winter, Martijn Slot","doi":"10.1093/aob/mcag075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcag075","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Climate warming increasingly disrupts plant-pollinator interactions through changes in floral chemical cues, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Current understanding of temperature effects on plant VOCs is largely derived from studies of foliar emissions in temperate environments and from a limited number of tropical sites, with comparatively little focus on floral VOCs that directly mediate pollination. Floral VOC emissions depend on specialized metabolic pathways derived from primary metabolism and on regulated transport across cellular barriers and the cuticle, processes that are highly sensitive to temperature. Because both biosynthesis and diffusion determine which compounds are released into the atmosphere, warming can alter floral VOC production, blend composition, and emission timing, potentially reducing floral detectability and impairing pollinator discrimination. In tropical ecosystems, where many plants produce short-lived flowers and rely on specialized pollinators, such changes may rapidly constrain reproduction. In this review, we describe advances in understanding of the temporal dynamics and functional roles of floral VOCs in tropical plants, examine evolutionary and metabolic constraints on floral VOC diversification, and evaluate how warming may influence plant-pollinator interactions by affecting both floral signaling and pollinator physiology and olfactory performance. We show that warming produces compound- and species-specific changes in floral VOC emissions, affecting both the composition and emission rates of compounds that may influence pollinator attraction. We also identify key knowledge gaps and research priorities, including the need to integrate floral chemistry, plant flowering phenology, and pollinator sensory ecology to better understand the stability of plant-pollinator interactions under climate warming in the tropics.</p>","PeriodicalId":8023,"journal":{"name":"Annals of botany","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147508871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}