Exploring the thermogenic and thermoregulatory functions of lotus flowers using interspecific differences.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21305
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 39:Agricultural and environmental biology and related fields
• Research Institution: Chuo University
• Principal Investigator: Takada Mayura 中央大学, 理工学部, 教授 (10466807)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 樋口 洋平 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 准教授 (00746844) ; 郭 威 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 准教授 (70745455)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 送粉共生系 / 花の発熱 / 画像解析 / 自動撮影 / 深層学習 / 物体識別

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Sseveral field and laboratory experiments including insect visitation analysis of lotus flowers photographed by an automatic camera were conducted to test the hypothesis that "thermogenesis and thermostability of lotus flowers attracts pollinator insects and increases fruiting rate". A reduction in the degree of heat production by partial excision of the heat-generating organ, the receptacle, reduces the anther dehiscience rate and the number of flower-visiting insects. High temperature of 30℃ or higher is required for sufficient anther dehiscience, suggesting that the thermogenesis and thermostability of lotus flowers play a role in attracting pollinators by releasing pollen at an appropriate time in the early morning of the second day of flowering.

Free Research Field

生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

世界でもごく稀な花の発熱・恒温性の機能および進化メカニズムについて、「ハスの発熱・恒温性は雄蕊の開葯を促進し、その結果訪花昆虫の誘引に寄与する」という新たな仮説を提唱し、それを実験的に検証するために必要な、野外でハスの発熱の程度を操作することに成功した。さらに、園芸学の手法・技術を活かした生態学的研究という新たな研究分野の開拓の一歩となった。