In this new contribution, I will share with all the academic community of the STEEM platform, scientific-technical information about POLYCHROMATIC BOTANY, in particular about flower coloration as a reproduction strategy, making use of the color variation exhibited by Lantana camara flowers (VERBENACEAE).

Introduction

The heterogeneous tonality of colors exhibited by plant species as a reproductive strategy has been one of the main scientific topics developed in the thematic series Polychromatic Botany, and as indicated in previous posts, the polymorphism related to color in plant species is nothing more than a biological tactic to perpetuate itself, hence, the coloration observed in the macroscopic structures of reproduction (flowers and inflorescences), is interpreted as a strategy to attract pollinating insects.

In fact, coloring polymorphism is considered to be the main visual strategy used by plant species to attract potential pollinating agents (insects that, after encoding polychromatic visual messages, begin to interact with reproductive structures, transporting pollen to the female segments of the flowers). For this reason, color is one of the floral attributes most addressed in botany, because it serves as a guide to determine the system of compatibility between plant species and the insects that visit their flowers [1].

Therefore, the objective of the post is to socialize the reproductive strategy of the plant species Lantana camara, describing the variation and tonality of the color with the interaction of the insects in the floral structures.

Polychromatic botany

Reproductive structures and visual attraction

The plant species, regardless of the climatic conditions of the bio-region where they develop, use certain polychromatic strategies as a resource of visual attraction, to ensure the visit of pollinating insects to their reproductive structures, basically this biological mechanism of using color as a tactic allows them to guarantee, on the one hand, fertilization and at the same time cross-pollination, reproductive elements vital to ensure genetic variability in new specimens.

It is known that the highest percentage of visits of pollinating insects to the flowers is registered precisely in those reproductive structures that exhibit petals with greater visual attraction, however, there are other aspects besides the shade of color, for example, the size of the petals and floral aroma, so the correlation of these three elements is a valuable biological tool to understand the influx and pollination habit of insects as biotic agents capable of responding to the communication system provided by certain plant species mainly through polychromatic strategies [2].

Flower coloring polymorphism

Flower color variation as a reproductive strategy

Normally the evolutionary success of plant species is associated with the morphological adaptability of their reproductive system, an aspect intrinsically related to the variation in color exhibited by the flowers, as a means of attracting a particular type of pollinator, which guarantees the passage of pollen from the male reproductive organ to the female structures.

In this sense, it is important to mention that this polymorphic diversification or floral syndrome, is interpreted by biologists and ecologists, as the set of reproductive adaptations destined to emit signals to determined insects with specific color preferences, for example; the particular tendency of hymenopteran insects to recognize and target flowers with yellow, blue or violet petals, while referring to the frequent visits of dipteran insects to red flowers, or the favoritism of lepidoptera to plant species exhibiting pink flowers [3 - 4].

Inflorescences as polychromatic structures

Color and morphology of the inflorescences

In addition to the arrangement of flowers as a key factor in the eyesight of pollinating insects, the morphology and variation in flower colour are also considered to be of significant importance in ensuring pollination because of the usual preferences of the insects [5].

Fig. 2 On the left side, detailed apical cauline meristematic segment of Lantana camara, on the right side flower bud. Author: @lupafilotaxia.

Therefore, generally the inflorescences of large size, bell-shaped morphology and yellow coloration are visited by insects of the hymenopteran order, a dissimilar case occurs in flowers of medium size, tubular morphology and red or pink coloration ordinarily visited by insects of the lepidopteran order, without ignoring the usual visits of dipteran insects to small flowers, variable morphology and reddish coloration.

Fig. 3 Lantana camara Flower Button about to open. Author: @lupafilotaxia.

Polychromatic field study

Species and area of study

In order to socialize some polychromatic strategies of reproductive profile that show the vegetables, I will socialize with all of you a study about the variation of the floral color that show the flowers of the species Lantana camara, (VERBENACEAE) commonly known as CARIAQUITO, the area of study corresponds to the ornamental spaces of the Amphitheatrical Classroom of the UNESUR, university institution located in Santa Barbara de Zulia - Venezuela.

Fig. 4 White/Yellow Lantana camara flowers. Author: @lupafilotaxia.

Methodological approach

In order to be able to relate color variation and tonality with insect interaction in floral structures, polychromatic observations were made in floral structures of CARIAQUITO Lantana camara. Descriptive analyses consisted of estimating floral color variation during anthesis, the predominance of pollinating insect visits and the photosynthetic biomass associated with floral color variation.

Fig. 5 White/yellow and pink flowers from Lantana camara. Author: @lupafilotaxia.

Polychromatic results

Variation in floral colour during anthesis

The opening of the cocoon, and the variation in floral colour during anthesis observed in situ, respond to a series of phases determined as follows;.

Phase 1: appearance of the flower bud.

Phase 2: white/yellow flower formation.

Phase 3: change from white/yellow flowers to pink flowers.

Phase 4: change from pink flowers to yellow flowers.

Phase 5: change from yellow flowers to orange flowers.

Fig. 6 Yellow flowers from Lantana camara. Author: @lupafilotaxia.

Predominance of pollinating insects visiting

The highest percentage of visits was made by pollinating insects of the order Lepidoptera, in flowers that exhibited pink and yellow coloration (72 %), so, knowing the habit and preference of these insects, it is likely that the change in floral color during anthesis, is a reproductive strategy of Lantana camera, to direct pollinating insects to non-pollinated flowers.

Fig. 7 Orange flowers from Lantana camara. Author: @lupafilotaxia.

Photosynthetic biomass associated with floral color variation

The largest photosynthetically active leaf biomass found was in the vegetative structures of Lantana camara, which exhibited white/yellow and pink flowers, a response that may be associated with facilitating photoassimilation to the reproductive system, morphologically adapted to the visits of pollinating agents of the lepidoptera order.

Fig. 8 Photosynthetically active leaf biomass from Lantana camara. Author: @lupafilotaxia.

SCIENTIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF THIS PUBLICATION

The polymorphism of floral coloration exhibited by Lantana camara specimens, and each topic developed in the post, highlights the polychromatic strategy employed by this plant species, as a resource of visual attraction to guarantee the visit of pollinating insects of the lepidopteran order to their reproductive structures, through changes in floral color during anthesis, a strategy associated with a biological tactic to direct pollinating agents to non-pollinated flowers and thus ensure sexual reproduction and perpetuation as a species.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES CONSULTED AND CITED:

[1] Chittka L. and Raine N. Recognition of flowers by pollinators. Current Opinion in Plant Biology. 2006;9:428-435. Article: Online access

[2] Azuma H., Thien L., and Kawano S. Floral scents, leaf volatiles and therogenic flowers in Magnoliaceae. Plant Species Biology. 1999;14:121-127. Article: Online access

[3] Carrión-Tacuri J., Berjano R., Guerrero G., Figueroa M., Tye A., and Castillo J. Nectar Production by Invasive Lantana camara and Endemic L. peduncularis in the Galápagos Islands. Pacific Science. 2012; 66; 4:435–445. Article: Online access

[4] Mathur G., and Mohan Ram H. Flower colour changes in Lantana camara. Journal of Experimental Botany. 1984;35:1656-1662. Article: Online access

[5] Miguez M., Grohar M., Aquino D.,Bouza A., Herrera A., Lafuente M., Scorza V., Chamer M., Amela M., and Hoc P. Floral biology of Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae). National University of General San Martín. 2013. Article: Online access

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carlos-fernando (56) · 5 years ago

Great job

@tipu curate

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tipu (67) · 5 years ago

Upvoted 👌 (Mana: 5/10 - need recharge?)

lupafilotaxia (75) · 5 years ago (edited)

Thanks for the support @carlos-fernando.

lupafilotaxia (75) · 5 years ago

Link to this publication on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lupafilotaxia/status/1233178004895019009

steemitasclub (63) · 5 years ago

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POLYCHROMATIC BOTANY // Flower colour variation of Lantana camara