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Science 24 May 1985:
Vol. 228. no. 4702, pp. 1011 - 1013
DOI: 10.1126/science.228.4702.1011
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Articles

Floral Mimicry Induced by Mummy-Berry Fungus Exploits Host's Pollinators as Vectors

LEKH R. BATRA 1 and SUZANNE W. T. BATRA 2

1 Mycology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville Maryland 20705
2 Systametic Entomology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville

Leaves and shoots of blueberries(Vaccinium spp.) and huckleberries (Gaylussacia sp.) when infected by ascospores of Monilinia spp. become ultraviolet-reflective and fragrant and secrete sugars at their lesions. Insects that normally pollinate these hosts are attracted to the discolored leaves, ingest the sugars, and transmit conidia to their flowers, resulting in sclerotia (mummy-berry) formation.

Submitted on July 26, 1984
Accepted on November 27, 1984


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