Sunflowers and Honeybees: A Study of the Mutualistic Relationship from a Biochemical and Morpho-Anatomical Perspective

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dc.contributor.authorWojtaszek, Jennie W.en_US
dc.contributor.committeeChairMaier, Camelia
dc.contributor.committeeMemberConrad-Webb, Heather
dc.contributor.committeeMemberBeck, Brian
dc.contributor.committeeMemberMcIntire, Sarah
dc.date.accessioned2014-04-04T19:00:34Z
dc.date.available2014-04-04T19:00:34Z
dc.date.copyright2013en_US
dc.date.issued1/1/2013en_US
dc.description.abstractThe mutualistic relationship between Helianthus annuus (Asteraceae) and Apis mellifera is reflected in their co-evolutionary adaptations. The corolla morphology and pigmentation of sunflowers help form a target pattern under UV, recognizable by bees. While collecting rewards, bees cross-pollinate the disk florets. Morpho-anatomical co-adaptations of the sunflower and honeybee were studied with LM, SEM, and CLSM. This study reports for the first time the presence of one to three rows of transitional papillae on stigma, which may function in protection of the receptive stigma from self-pollination. A model of the cross-pollination of sunflower inflorescence by honeybees is presented. The chemical characterization of flavonoid pigments in disk florets, known to contribute to the target pattern of the inflorescence, accomplished with chromatographic and MS techniques, revealed the presence of luteolin and pelargonidin pigments. This is the first report on the presence of luteolin and pelargonidin in sunflower disk florets. Results of this study will contribute to the metabolomics of the phenylpropanoid pathway in H. annuus in addition to enhancing understanding of mutualism and biosemiotic relationships between flowering plants and pollinators.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11274/331
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.subjectBiologyen_US
dc.subjectPlant biologyen_US
dc.subjectBiochemistryen_US
dc.titleSunflowers and Honeybees: A Study of the Mutualistic Relationship from a Biochemical and Morpho-Anatomical Perspectiveen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
thesis.degree.collegeCollege of Arts and Sciences
thesis.degree.departmentBiology
thesis.degree.disciplineBiology
thesis.degree.grantorTexas Woman's University
thesis.degree.levelMaster
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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