Volume 25, Numbers 3-4, 83-97, DOI: 10.1007/s11105-007-0009-0

Floral Chemical Signatures in the Genus Ophrys L. (Orchidaceae) : A Preliminary Test of a New Tool for Taxonomy and Evolution

Errol Véla, Alain Tirard, Marielle Renucci, Carey M. Suehs and Erick Provost

View Related Documents

Abstract

Ophrys flowers sexually swindle male insect pollinators that cross-pollinate flowers during acts of pseudocopulation on the labellum. Classification of this species-rich genus into a natural system is difficult, even with the present molecular methods, because of low interspecific genetic variability. We investigated the potential for flower chemical signatures generated from gas chromatography of Ophrys labellum extracts to distinguish taxa and indicate phylogenetic relationships. Labellum extracts of five taxa from southeast France belonging to the sections Araniferae and Pseudophrys were analyzed. We obtained a high variability among all individuals with a good discrimination among all species. We conclude that lipidic compounds on Ophrys labellum represent species-specific chemical signatures, as has proven useful in insect taxonomy. Furthermore, a possible population effect is detected for a poorly described, polytypical species. We conclude that chemical investigations should be continued to clarify the classification of closely related taxa and to better understand the evolutionary processes in this extraordinary genus.

Keywords   Araniferae  - Chemical mimicry - Cuticular lipidic compounds - Gas chromatography - Mediterranean area -  Pseudophrys

Fulltext Preview

Image of the first page of the fulltext document