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Anatomy and ultrastructure floral osmophores of Catasetum fimbriatum (Orchidaceae)

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Abstract

Catasetum fimbriatum is a dioecious species whose flowers fully adapted to an euglossinophilic mode of pollination. Euglossini male bees collect the volatile fragrances which are produced in osmophores on the flowers. In order to understand the mechanism of scent secretion and floral interaction with the pollinator, we describe the location, histochemistry, anatomy, and ultrastructure of osmophores in pistillate and staminate flowers of this species. Fresh flowers were submerged in neutral red solution to locate the position of the osmophores. Other histochemical test performed includes the NADI reaction to detect terpenoids, Sudan IV for lipids, and Lugol’s iodine solution to detect starch. Anatomical and ultrastructural traits were studied with bright field and transmission electron microscopes, respectively. The location of osmophores differs between pistillate and staminate flowers. In pistillate flowers, secretory tissues were observed on the ribbed adaxial surface of the labellum, but not on its margins, whereas in staminate flowers, they were found throughout the adaxial surface of the labellum and especially in the fimbriae. Anatomy and ultrastructure of the osmophores in the labellum of both types of flowers were similar. They present characteristics of metabolically active cells, such as abundant mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, vesicles, plastids with starch grains, and lipid globules. Granulocrine secretion and cycles of cytoplasmic contraction and expansion appear to allow the release of products without involving the rupture of the cuticle. Individuals of Eufriesea auriceps and Euglossa sp. were captured in staminate and pistillate flowers but, it seems likely, that only the former pollinates this orchid species.

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Acknowledgements

We thank G. Zarvlasky for technical assistance, to family Götz and Alparamis S.A. for the permission to conduct this study at Reserva El Bagual (Formosa), A. Di Giacomo for logistical support, A. Avalos and L.J. Álvarez for his help in the field, A. Avalos for the photograph of orchid-bees in flowers of Catasetum fimbriatum, L.J. Álvarez for the identification of orchid bees, and C. Peichoto for making cultivated plant material available (Corrientes). B. Galati, S. Aliscioni, and A. Avalos and three anonymous reviewers provided constructive criticism to previous drafts. MMG and JPT are affiliated to the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Argentina.

Funding

This work was supported by the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBACyT grant numbers 20020160100012BA and 20020130200203BA) and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (grant number PIP 11220110100312).

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  1. Facultad de Agronomía, Cátedra de Botánica General, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martin 4453, C1417DSE, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Sofía Daniela Reposi, Marina María Gotelli & Juan Pablo Torretta

  2. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Marina María Gotelli & Juan Pablo Torretta

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  1. Sofía Daniela Reposi
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Reposi, S.D., Gotelli, M.M. & Torretta, J.P. Anatomy and ultrastructure floral osmophores of Catasetum fimbriatum (Orchidaceae). Protoplasma 258, 1091–1102 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-021-01625-1

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