Science

Pollination in Genus Artocarpus (Moraceae)

The Moraceae family (ca. 1,000 species) includes figs (Ficus), mulberries (Morus), and breadfruit (Artocarpus). Mulberries are wind-pollinated, while figs have one of the most fascinating pollination modes, which is often used as a classic example of coevolution between plants and insecrts. In the obligate mutualism found in all fig species, female fig wasps use the enclosed fig inflorescence as a brood site, laying their eggs in some of the ovules and pollinating others. The offspring hatch and mate inside the fig. The pollinator and host are entirely interdependent for reproduction. Interestingly, very little is known about pollination in the rest of the family, leaving the question, how did such a specialized pollination syndrome evolve from wind pollination? Studying other members of the family may help reveal the answer. Work focuses on pollination experiments on several Artocarpus species in Sabah, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. To date, findings indicate pollination in some species may involve a tripartite mutualism among the plant, fungi, and gall midges. Some species may be pollinated by moths, beetles, or small flies. The work may also result in the identification of insect and fungal species that are new to science (Gardner and Zerega).