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Review
. 2012:12:56.
doi: 10.1673/031.012.5601.

Methyl eugenol: its occurrence, distribution, and role in nature, especially in relation to insect behavior and pollination

Keng Hong Tan  1 , Ritsuo Nishida
Affiliations
Review

Methyl eugenol: its occurrence, distribution, and role in nature, especially in relation to insect behavior and pollination

Keng Hong Tan et al. J Insect Sci. 2012.

Abstract

This review discusses the occurrence and distribution (within a plant) of methyl eugenol in different plant species (> 450) from 80 families spanning many plant orders, as well as various roles this chemical plays in nature, especially in the interactions between tephritid fruit flies and plants.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Chemical structures of methyl eugenol (ME) and its analogs. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Male fruit flies (Bactrocera dorsalis and Bactrocera umbrosa) feeding along yellow—brown border of an infected leaf of Proiphys amboinensis. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
A male Bactrocera umbrosa feeding on Spathiphyllum cannaefolium spadix. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
A possible biosynthetic pathway of methyl eugenol in an orchid flower of a bactrocerophilous Bulbophyllum species. PAL, phenylalanine ammonia lyase; CCR, cinnamoyl-CoA reductase; CAD, cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase; CFAT, coniferyl alcohol acyltransferase; EGS, eugenol synthase; EOMT, eugenol O-methyltransferase. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
A male Bactrocera dorsalis bearing pollinia on see—saw lip of Bulbophyllum patens. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Male fruit flies, Bactrocera dorsalis, congregating and licking on a fully bloomed Bulbophyllum cheiri flower. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
Male Bactrocera dorsalis bearing pollinia of Bulbophyllum cheiri. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.
Flower of Bulbophyllum vinaceum with its spring— loaded lip in a closed position and a pollinarium—bearing fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis. High quality figures are available online.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
A male Bactrocera dorsalis bearing a pollinarium just removed from the Bulbophyllum elevatopuntatum flower (P.T. Ong). High quality figures are available online.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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