Abstract
Cleome viscosa L. is an annual summer blooming herb. A generalized group of pollinators like Apis dorsata, A. cerana, Halictus albescens, Ceratina heiroglyphica, Nomia elliotii, N. curvipes and Eurema hecabae mediate within and between plant, pollen flow thereby contributing to geitonogamy and xenogamy respectively. Relationship of mutualism thereby exists in which pollinators are offered nutrient rich pollen and nectar for favour of transferring male units (pollen) between flowers. Interestingly, the plants were also observed to be associated with certain spiders of order Arachnidales (Thomisus, Neoscona and Peucetia). All these spiders via behavioural mimicry parasitize bees which actually are the efficient pollinators of this species. A tritrophic syndrome, therefore, seems to have evolved involving plant (flower)–pollinator and predator (spiders)–pollinators interactions. The communication deals with the incidence of spiders’ interaction with Cleome through tritrophism i.e., plant–pollinator–predator relationship.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Angelica MA, Jorge LP, Victor PT, Laura THS, Jorge EMM, Victor RG (2012) Effects of the spider Peucetia viridens (Oxyopidea) on floral visitors and seed set of Cnidoscolus multilobus (Euphorbiaceae). Acta Bot Mex 100:1–4. https://doi.org/10.21829/abm100.2012.29
Chweya JA, Mnzava NA (1997) Cat’s whiskers (Cleome gynandra L.). Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. Vol. 11, Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, Gatersleben/International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Rome, Italy, p 54
Platnick NI (2014) The world spider catalog, version 14.5. American Museum of Natural History. http://research.amnh.org/entomology/spiders/catalog/index.html. Accessed 14 Dec 2014
Saroop S (2016) Studies on variability in morphological and reproductive traits in Cleome viscosa L. Ph.D. thesis submitted to University of Jammu, Jammu
Sebastian PA, Peter KV (2009) Spiders of India. Universities Press (India) Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, p 614
Shveta S, Kaul V (2015a) Correlation patterns among floral traits in Cleome viscosa L, a sexually polymorphic species. Curr Sci 109(4):790–798
Shveta S, Kaul V (2015b) Intra-plant floral variation and its possible significance in Cleome viscosa L. Indian J Exp Biol 53:468–475
Wise DH (1993) Spiders in ecological webs. Cambridge University Press, New York, p 328
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to Drs. Sanjay Bhatia and Sumita Sharma, Department of Zoology, University of Jammu, Jammu for identifying the spiders and the anonnymous reviewer for the suggestions. The Department of Botany (UGC-SAP), University of Jammu, Jammu is duly acknowledged for providing the necessary laboratory and library facilities, and UGC-SAP for the financial assistance in the form of BSR fellowship to the first author.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical statement
I certify preparation of this manuscript is clearly described in Compliance with Ethical Standards section of the journal.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saroop, S., Kaul, V. Tritrophism in mellitophylic Cleome viscosa L.. Genet Resour Crop Evol 66, 1367–1370 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-019-00798-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-019-00798-2