A novel rapid, simple and solvent-free method was developed for determination of the volatile compounds from the flowers of Chimonanthus praecox Link using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The SPME conditions were firstly optimized and applied to sampling of the volatile compounds emitted from living Chimonanthus praecox L. flower...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Andromonoecy, as a breeding system, has generated a considerable body of theory in terms of sexual selection, but extended records comparing the performance of pollen grains from staminate versus hermaphrodite flowers are still sparse. The objective in this study was to elucidate the role of staminate flowers in the andromonoecious breeding system of olive (Olea europaea). ...

Predators of pollinators can influence pollination services and plant fitness via both consumptive (reducing pollinator density) and non-consumptive (altering pollinator behaviour) effects. However, a better knowledge of the mechanisms underlying behaviourally mediated indirect effects of predators is necessary to properly understand their role in community dynamics. We used the tripartite rela...

ABSTRACT Biostimulants currently available on the market include those containing seaweed extract. There is sufficient scientific evidence to conclude that applying biostimulants agricultural crops can positively impact plant growth and yield. However, results differ between plants species environmental conditions. As such, present study aimed assess effects of doses application times a biostim...

Several fungal plant pathogens induce 'pseudoflowers' on their hosts to facilitate insect-mediated transmission of gametes and spores. When spores must be transmitted to host flowers to complete the fungal life cycle, we predict that pseudoflowers should evolve traits that mimic flowers and attract the most effective vectors in the flower-visiting community. We quantified insect visitation to f...

Two new species of the ascosporic yeast genus Metschnikowia were isolated from nectaries and associated muscoid flies of flowers from the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) in North America, and are described as Metschnikowia vanudenii [type strain=PYCC 4650(T)=CBS 9134(T)=NRRL Y-27243(T)=UWO(PS) 86A4.1(T)] and Metschnikowia lachancei [type strain=PYCC 4605(T)=CBS 9131(T)=NRRL Y-27242(T)=UWO(P...