Abstract
Sexually deceptive orchids typically depend on specific insect species for pollination, which are lured by sex pheromone mimicry. European Ophrys orchids often exploit specific species of wasps or bees with carboxylic acid derivatives. Here, we identify the specific semiochemicals present in O. insectifera, and in females of one of its pollinator species, Argogorytes fargeii. Headspace volatile samples and solvent extracts were analysed by GC-MS and semiochemicals were structurally elucidated by microderivatisation experiments and synthesis. (Z)-8-Heptadecene and n-pentadecane were confirmed as present in both O. insectifera and A. fargeii female extracts, with both compounds being found to be electrophysiologically active to pollinators. The identified semiochemicals were compared with previously identified Ophrys pollinator attractants, such as (Z)-9 and (Z)-12-C27-C29 alkenes in O. sphegodes and (Z)-9-octadecenal, octadecanal, ethyl linoleate and ethyl oleate in O. speculum, to provide further insights into the biosynthesis of semiochemicals in this genus. We propose that all these currently identified Ophrys semiochemicals can be formed biosynthetically from the same activated carboxylic acid precursors, after a sequence of elongation and decarbonylation reactions in O. sphegodes and O. speculum, while in O. insectifera, possibly by decarbonylation without preceding elongation.
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Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
(Z)-8-Heptadecene and n-pentadecane were present in both O. insectifera and its pollinator A. fargeii female extracts.
- Taxon
- O. insectifera
Ophrys insectiferae1 - Interactor
- A. fargeii
Argogorytes fargeiie1pollinator - Compound
- (Z)-8-Heptadecene and n-pentadecanee1
- Outcome
- presente1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Ophrys insectifera”
e1“(Z)-8-Heptadecene and n-pentadecane were confirmed as present in both O. insectifera and A. fargeii female extracts, with both compounds being found to be electrophysiologically active to pollinators”
Claim · model-written summary
(Z)-8-Heptadecene and n-pentadecane were electrophysiologically active to pollinators.
- Taxon
- Ophrys insectiferaOphrys insectiferat0
- Interactor
- pollinatorse1pollinator
- Compound
- (Z)-8-Heptadecene and n-pentadecanee1
- Outcome
- electrophysiologically activee1
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Ophrys insectifera”
e1“(Z)-8-Heptadecene and n-pentadecane were confirmed as present in both O. insectifera and A. fargeii female extracts, with both compounds being found to be electrophysiologically active to pollinators”
Claim · model-written summary
O. insectifera semiochemicals are probably formed by decarbonylation without preceding elongation.
- Taxon
- O. insectiferaOphrys insectiferae2
- Outcome
- formed biosyntheticallye2
- Qualifier
- decarbonylation without preceding elongatione2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Ophrys insectifera”
e2“We propose that all these currently identified Ophrys semiochemicals can be formed biosynthetically from the same activated carboxylic acid precursors, after a sequence of elongation and decarbonylation reactions in O. sphegodes and O. speculum, while in O. insectifera, possibly by decarbonylation without preceding elongation”
Claim · model-written summary
O. sphegodes and O. speculum semiochemicals are probably formed by elongation and decarbonylation reactions.
- Taxon
- O. sphegodes and O. speculum
Ophrys speculum
Ophrys sphegodese2 - Outcome
- formed biosyntheticallye2
- Qualifier
- elongation and decarbonylation reactionse2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Ophrys insectifera”
e2“We propose that all these currently identified Ophrys semiochemicals can be formed biosynthetically from the same activated carboxylic acid precursors, after a sequence of elongation and decarbonylation reactions in O. sphegodes and O. speculum, while in O. insectifera, possibly by decarbonylation without preceding elongation”