Disentangling visual and olfactory signals in mushroom-mimicking Dracula orchids using realistic three-dimensional printed flowers

Flowers use olfactory and visual signals to communicate with pollinators. Disentangling the relative contributions and potential synergies between signals remains a challenge. Understanding the perceptual biases exploited by floral mimicry illuminates the evolution of these signals. Here, we disentangle the olfactory and visual components of Dracula lafleurii, which mimics mushrooms in size, shape, color and scent, and is pollinated by mushroom-associated flies. To decouple signals, we used three-dimensional printing to produce realistic artificial flower molds that were color matched and cast using scent-free surgical silicone, to which we could add scent. We used GC-MS to measure scents in co-occurring mushrooms, and related orchids, and used these scents in field experiments. By combining silicone flower parts with real floral organs, we created chimeras that identified the mushroom-like labellum as a source of volatile attraction. In addition, we showed remarkable overlap in the vol...

花卉通过嗅觉与视觉信号与传粉者进行交流。厘清两类信号间的相对贡献与潜在协同效应仍是一项研究难题。解析花卉拟态所利用的感知偏差，有助于阐明这类信号的演化机制。本研究厘清了拉夫勒骷髅兰（Dracula lafleurii）的嗅觉与视觉信号组分，该物种在大小、形态、颜色与气味上拟态蘑菇，且由与蘑菇共生的蝇类传粉。为分离信号组分，本研究通过三维打印（3D printing）制作了逼真的人工花模具，经色彩匹配后采用无气味医用硅橡胶浇筑成型，该模型可额外添加气味物质。本研究借助气相色谱-质谱联用仪（GC-MS）测定了同域分布蘑菇及近缘兰科植物的气味成分，并将其应用于野外实验中。通过将硅橡胶花部结构与真实花器官结合，本研究构建了嵌合花模型，确定了拟态蘑菇的唇瓣是挥发性吸引信号的来源。此外，本研究揭示了在挥发性成分上存在显著的重叠……