- Start date:
- 01 Jan 2015
- End date:
- 31 Dec 2020
- Researchers:
- Professor Rod Peakall (Australian National University) Professor Eran Pichersky (University of Michigan) Associate Professor Celeste Linde (Australian National University) Dr Peter Weston (National Herbarium of New South Wales)
- Project sponsors:
- Australian Research Council
- Project partners:
- Australian National University, University of Michigan
Project aims
-
- To elucidate the pathways by which Chiloglottis orchids synthesize chemicals (pseudo-pheromones) that mimic the sexual pheromones of female wasps
- To reconstruct the phylogenetic tree of evolutionary relationships between Chiloglottis orchids
- To trace the evolution of biosynthetic pathways of pseudo-pheromones in Chiloglottis
- To identify the ancestral chemicals from which pseudo-pheromones evolve
Project Summary
Many plants secure pollination by attracting animal pollinators, but how these crucial interactions evolved largely remains a mystery. Australia is a world centre for the evolution of sexual deception in which hundreds of orchids use pseudo-pheromones to sexually lure their pollinators. In this study we will 1. characterise the biosynthetic pathway and molecular basis of these unique chemicals, 2. investigate speciation processes with robust orchid phylogenies, 3. reveal new insights into the evolution of animal pollination. This work will also discover new enzymes and genes, potentially unlocking new tools for producing novel and useful chemicals.
Research Update
The project started only recently, with collection of selected Chiloglottis species for cultivation, and preliminary biochemical work.