该团队报道了植物产生的热红外辐射作为授粉信号，并描述了热量产生和红外探测的潜在机制。线粒体的适应性以昼夜节律模式加热植物的生殖结构，辐射出足以吸引甲虫传粉者的红外线。甲虫的触角含有红外线激活的神经元，这些神经元具有热敏离子通道，这些离子通道在结构上经过调整以匹配寄主植物的产热作用。对比分析表明，红外信号是最早的授粉信号之一，并表明开花植物从以红外为基础的信号向以颜色为主的信号发生了深时间转变。他们的发现揭示了一种古老的感官模式，影响了授粉的早期进化，授粉是世界上联系植物和动物的最重要的过程之一。
据了解，众所周知，颜色和气味是传粉者的线索。一些植物也产生热量，但其作用尚不清楚。
附：英文原文
Title: Infrared radiation is an ancient pollination signal
Author: Wendy A. Valencia-Montoya, Marjorie A. Liénard, Neil Rosser, Michael Calonje, Shayla Salzman, Cheng-Chia Tsai, Nanfang Yu, John R. Carlson, Rodrigo Cogni, Naomi E. Pierce, Nicholas W. Bellono
Issue&Volume: 2025-12-11
Abstract: Color and scent are well-known pollinator cues. Some plants also produce heat, but its role remains unclear. Here, we report that plant-generated thermal infrared radiation serves as a pollination signal and describe the underlying mechanisms of heat production and infrared detection. Mitochondrial adaptations heat plant reproductive structures in a circadian pattern, radiating infrared that is sufficient to attract beetle pollinators. Beetle antennae contain infrared-activated neurons with thermosensitive ion channels that are structurally tuned to match host plant thermogenesis. Comparative analyses revealed that infrared is among the earliest pollination signals, and indicate a deep-time transition from infrared-based to color-dominated signaling in flowering plants. Our findings uncover an ancient sensory modality shaping the early evolution of pollination, one of the world’s most vital processes linking plants and animals.
DOI: adz1728
Source: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adz1728