title: Floral scent in natural hybrids of Ipomopsis (Polemoniaceae) and their parental species.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Floral traits, such as floral volatiles, can contribute to pre-zygotic reproductive isolation by promoting species-specific pollinator foraging. When hybrid zones form, floral traits could also influence post-zygotic isolation. This study examined floral volatiles in parental species and natural hybrids in order to explore potential scent mediation of pre-zygotic and post-zygotic isolation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Floral bouquets were analysed for the sister species Ipomopsis aggregata and I. tenuituba and their natural hybrids at two contact sites differing in both hybridization rate and temporal foraging pattern of hawkmoth pollinators. Floral volatiles were quantified in diurnal and nocturnal scent samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bouquets of parental species and hybrids showed qualitative overlap. All flowers emitted similar sets of monoterpenoid, sesquiterpenoid, aliphatic and benzenoid compounds, but separated into groups defined by multivariate analysis of quantitative emissions. The parental species differed most strikingly in the nitrogenous compound indole, which was found almost exclusively in nocturnal bouquets of I. tenuituba. Natural hybrid bouquets were highly variable, and showed emission rates of several compounds that appeared transgressive. However, indole emission rates were intermediate in the hybrids compared with rates in the parents. Volatile bouquets at the contact site with lower hybridization did not show greater species specificity in overall scent emission, but I. tenuituba presented a stronger indole signal during peak hawkmoth activity at that site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The two species of Ipomopsis differed in patterns of floral bouquets, with indole emitted in nocturnal I. tenuituba, but not in I. aggregata. Natural hybrid bouquets were not consistently intermediate between the parents, although hybrids were intermediate in indole emission. The indole signal could potentially serve as a hawkmoth attractant that mediates reproductive isolation both before and after hybrid formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, 215 Tower Road, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Mascha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bischoff
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jürgens
authors.forename: Diane R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D007211:Indoles; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D009036:Moths; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000032:analysis*; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000032:analysis*; D060047:Reproductive Isolation; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D007211:Indoles; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; C030374:indole
keywords: Floral volatiles; Ipomopsis; Polemoniaceae; hawkmoth; hybrid zone; reproductive isolation; scent