Composição Química e Ecologia dos Recursos Florais

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.5752401085

• Palavras-chave: Flores. Metabólitos, Cores. Interação química.

• Keywords: Flowers. Metabolites. Colours. Chemical Interaction

• Abstract: Flowers are part of the reproductive structures of plants and are essential to the plants that produce them. In addition to aesthetic value, floral resources have various characteristics, such as shape, fragrance, and colour, with individual and collaborative meanings in the ecosystem. The great diversity of flowers is mainly a result of the metabolic processes that occur in this reproductive organ. The various secondary metabolites produced by this organ are involved in sensory and structural properties, resistance to predators, development, reproduction, and supporting the interactions of plants with animal pollinators. The chemical interaction between plants and insects is fundamental in developing plant-insect ecological networks, making it an essential tool for natural and agricultural ecosystems. From an ecological point of view, flowers respond to environmental stimuli by releasing chemical signals, which constitute the mediating element in the interactions of pollinators and are helpful in the protection mechanism against herbivores or pathogens. The natural pigments in flower petals mainly act as a signal to attract and select pollinators. Flower metabolism covers topics of relevance to agriculture and the ecosystem.