Original Research

Evidence of a volatile attractant in Ficus ingens (Moraceae)*

N. P. Barker
Bothalia | Vol 15, No 3/4 | a1854 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/abc.v15i3/4.1854 | © 1984 N. P. Barker | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 06 December 1984 | Published: 06 December 1984

About the author(s)

N. P. Barker, Botanical Research Institute, Department of Agriculture & Water Supply, South Africa

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Abstract

The relationship between the fig Ficus ingens (Miq.) Miq. and its wasp pollinator, Platyscapa soranu Wiebes, was studied. A mechanism of pollinator attraction is discussed and corroboration obtained by using gas chromatography to show the presence of volatile compounds. These compounds are shown to be released at the female phase of the fig’s flowering eyclc. These data are correlated to pollinator behaviour and visitation data obtained from field observations.


Keywords

fig; gas chromatography; pollinator attraction; volatile compound; wasp pollinator

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