FIG VOLATILES - THEIR ROLE IN ATTRACTING POLLINATORS AND MAINTAINING POLLINATOR SPECIFICITY

Each fig tree species (Ficus) is totally dependent on a specific species of wasp for pollination and the larvae of these wasps only develop in the ovules of their specific Ficus host. Because the fig crop on any particular tree is generally highly synchronized, the short-lived female wasps must leave their natal tree in order to find figs which are suitable for oviposition. Chemical volatiles produced by figs when they are ready for pollination are thought to be the means by which the wasps detect a suitable host. Gas chromatograms of the fig volatiles of 7 species of Ficus showed them to be species specific. Age related changes in the volatile profiles were noted as extra volatiles are produced when the figs were ready for pollination.