Infrared radiation is an ancient pollination signal
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.
Authors
- Marjorie A. Liénard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3193-3666)
- Nicholas W. Bellono (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0829-9436)
- Rodrigo Cogni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9907-9297)
- Shayla Salzman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6808-7542)
- Michael Calonje (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9650-3136)
- John R. Carlson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0244-5180)
- Neil Rosser (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7796-2548)
- Cheng‐Chia Tsai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5662-6908)
- Nanfang Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9462-4724)
- Naomi E. Pierce (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3366-1625)
- Wendy A. Valencia‐Montoya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9246-2330)
Institutions
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Miami (US)
- University of Liège (BE)
- University of Georgia (US)
- Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- Montgomery Botanical Center (US)
- Yale University (US)
- Columbia University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science
- Published
- 2025-12-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adz1728
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Plant and animal studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 12.11