![]() ![]() Solanaceae is one of the major plant families that are predominantly buzz-pollinated. Although studies on ecology and evolutionary biology of buzz pollination have been carried out for more than a century, the biomechanics, pollinator physiology and behavior in relation to buzzing have only recently gained an increased interest. Unlike other insect pollinators (e.g., Lepidoptera), buzz pollinators produce floral vibrations using their thoracic muscles and use their other body parts including mandibles, head and abdomen to release the pollen from these anthers, an ability confined to a few insect genera. More interestingly, these pollinators mainly include bumble bees ( Bombus spp.), carpenter bees ( Xylocopa spp.), and sweat bees ( Lasioglossum spp.) among others, but not honeybees ( Apis spp.). Concealing pollen grains inside poricidal anthers conserves pollen, and has also led to specialized pollinators, commonly known as buzz pollinators. Among these species, the most common anther type is poricidal, where pollen grains tend to be stored inside non-dehiscent anther tubes with small pores at the tip. In another wonderful example of convergent evolution, it is estimated that around 6% of flowering plants, comprising species from multiple plant families, are primarily buzz-pollinated. Our results suggest that electric toothbrushes can be a viable and inexpensive alternative to tuning forks, and regardless of the instrument used and buzzing frequency, length of buzzing time is also critical in pollen extraction. lycopersicum, and at longer buzzing time regardless of the instrument used. ![]() Our results show that species, and extraction time significantly influenced pollen extraction, while there were no significant differences for the different vibration frequencies and more importantly, the use of a toothbrush over tuning fork. ![]() To find an alternative, we tested the efficiency of pollen collection using electric toothbrushes and compared it with tuning forks at three vibration frequencies-low, medium, and high and two extraction times at 3 s and 16 s- from two buzz-pollinated species ( Solanum lycopersicum and Solanum elaeagnifolium). However, these methods can be expensive, unreliable, and inefficient. Breeding programs and research activities where artificial buzz-pollinations are required to have primarily relied upon using tuning forks, and bumble bees. ![]()
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