Pollinators and Petunias
Pollinators are attracted to flowers based on certain characteristics, including color, scent and morphology. Evolutionary changes in these traits correlate with changes in pollinator-plant relationships, and pollinator syndromes, or suites of floral characteristics that influence pollinator identity, can differ greatly between even closely related species. Thus, characterizing the molecular basis that underlies shifts in pollinator syndromes can lead to the discovery of speciation genes, as well as to a greater understanding of evolutionary trajectories and timelines that define the species. Read more