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Abstract Several agriculturally valuable plants store their pollen in tube-like poricidal anthers, which release pollen through buzz pollination. In this process, bees rapidly vibrate the anther using their indirect flight muscles. The stiffness and resonant frequency of the anther are crucial for effective pollen release, yet the impact of turgor pressure on these properties is not well understood. Here, we performed three-point flexure tests and experimental modal analysis to determine anther transverse stiffness and resonant frequency, respectively. Dynamic nanoindentation was used to identify the anther storage modulus as a function of excitation frequency. We subsequently developed mathematical models to estimate how turgor pressure changes after the anther is removed from a flower, thereby emulating zero water availability. We found that anther stiffness decreased by 60% at 30 min post-ablation and anther resonant frequency decreased by 20% at 60 min post-ablation. Models indicated that turgor pressure in the fresh anther was ~0.2–0.3 MPa. Our findings suggest that natural fluctuations in turgor pressure due to environmental factors such as temperature and light intensity may require bees to adjust their foraging behaviors. Interestingly, the anther storage modulus increased with excitation frequency, underscoring the need for more sophisticated mechanical models that consider viscous fluid transport through plant tissue.
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This content will become publicly available on January 1, 2026
Buzz pollination: investigations of pollen expulsion using the discrete element method
Buzz pollination involves the release of pollen from, primarily, poricidal anthers through vibrations generated by certain bee species. Despite previous experimental and numerical studies, the intricacies of pollen dynamics within vibrating anthers remain elusive due to the challenges in observing these small-scale, opaque systems. This research employs the discrete element method to simulate the pollen expulsion process in vibrating anthers. By exploring various frequencies and displacement amplitudes, a correlation between how aggressively the anther shakes and the initial rate of pollen expulsion is observed under translating oscillations. This study highlights that while increasing both the frequency and displacement of vibration enhances pollen release, the rate of release does not grow linearly with their increase. Our findings also reveal the significant role of pollen–pollen interactions, which account for upwards of one-third of the total collisions. Comparisons between two types of anther exits suggest that pore size and shape also influence expulsion rates. This research provides a foundation for more comprehensive models that can incorporate additional factors such as cohesion, adhesion and Coulomb forces, paving the way for deeper insights into the mechanics of buzz pollination and its variability across different anther types and vibration parameters.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2221908
- PAR ID:
- 10615804
- Publisher / Repository:
- Royal Society Publishing
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of The Royal Society Interface
- Volume:
- 22
- Issue:
- 222
- ISSN:
- 1742-5662
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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