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Sex-specific volatile compounds influence microarthropod-mediated fertilization of moss

Nature volume 489, pages 431–433 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

Sexual reproduction in non-vascular plants requires unicellular free-motile sperm to travel from male to female reproductive structures across the terrestrial landscape1. Recent data suggest that microarthropods can disperse sperm in mosses2. However, little is known about the chemical communication, if any, that is involved in this interaction or the relative importance of microarthropod dispersal compared to abiotic dispersal agents in mosses. Here we show that tissues of the cosmopolitan moss Ceratodon purpureus emit complex volatile scents, similar in chemical diversity to those described in pollination mutualisms between flowering plants and insects, that the chemical composition of C. purpureus volatiles are sex-specific, and that moss-dwelling microarthropods are differentially attracted to these sex-specific moss volatile cues. Furthermore, using experimental microcosms, we show that microarthropods significantly increase moss fertilization rates, even in the presence of water spray, highlighting the important role of microarthropod dispersal in contributing to moss mating success. Taken together, our results indicate the presence of a scent-based ‘plant–pollinator-like’ relationship that has evolved between two of Earth’s most ancient terrestrial lineages, mosses and microarthropods.

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Figure 1: Sex-specific volatile profiles.
Figure 2: Differences in volatile composition.
Figure 3: Springtails prefer female moss.
Figure 4: Springtails enhance fertilization in moss microcosms.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to W. Luo and L. Isabelle for analytical assistance, to C. Rupert for assistance with the preference assays, and to L. Stark and N. McLetchie for plant material. Funding was provided by the 3M Corporation and the National Science Foundation (DEB-0743461 to S.M.E. and IOS-0719570 to T.N.R).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Center for Life in Extreme Environments, Portland State University, 1719 SW 10th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA,

    Todd N. Rosenstiel, Erin E. Shortlidge, Andrea N. Melnychenko & Sarah M. Eppley

  2. Department of Chemistry, 1719 SW 10th Avenue, Portland State University, Portland, 97201, Oregon, USA

    James F. Pankow

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Portland State University, 1930 SW 4th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA,

    James F. Pankow

Authors
  1. Todd N. Rosenstiel
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Contributions

S.M.E. and T.N.R. coordinated and planned the project. E.E.S., S.M.E., and T.N.R. initiated and carried out the experiments. A.N.M., J.F.P.. and T.N.R. were responsible for the gas chromatography data and analyses. All authors contributed to the writing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sarah M. Eppley.

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Rosenstiel, T., Shortlidge, E., Melnychenko, A. et al. Sex-specific volatile compounds influence microarthropod-mediated fertilization of moss. Nature 489, 431–433 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature11330

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