Flowers of angiosperms attract pollinators such as insects to transfer pollen to the stigmas of conspecific individuals, thereby
ensuring reproductive success. In this mutualistic relationship, pollinators provide pollination services, while plants offer rewards such as
nectar. This relationship has driven the coevolution of floral traits—including color, morphology, scent, nectar, and other traits—and pollinator
preferences. Different pollinators exhibit specific preferences for these traits, and the suite of floral characteristics adapted to particular
pollinators is collectively referred to as the pollination syndrome.When environmental conditions change or pollinators change, plants may
undergo pollinator shifts to adapt to new pollinators. Evidence from multiple plant families and genera suggests that such shifts not only drive
innovations in floral traits but also promote population divergence through pollinator-mediated reproductive isolation, ultimately serving as a
key mechanism for rapid species radiation in angiosperms. However, the molecular mechanisms by which pollinator shifts drive speciation
remain unclear. Advances in genomics and molecular genetics have accelerated the identification of key genes, enhancing our understanding
of pollinator-mediated reproductive isolation. In this review, we first introduce the concepts of pollination syndromes and pollinator shifts,
then highlight recent progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the transition of pollination syndromes. Finally, we
discuss the interactions between pollinator-mediated reproductive isolation and other isolation mechanisms, as well as their implications for
the process of speciation.
MA Yiying, HOU Xinghui, LI Chaobin
. Unraveling the molecular basis of pollination syndrome shifts in angiosperms[J]. Chinese Journal of Nature, 2025
, 47(5)
: 381
-395
.
DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2025.04.011