Wilting may leave bees wanting: drops in turgor pressure may reduce viability of buzz-pollinated flowers

Abstract

Turgor pressure gives structural stability to plants as water in a cell pushes the cell membrane against the cell wall. This structural stability is particularly important in non-woody plant organs such as flowers, where high turgor pressure creates the hydrostatic skeleton required to maintain upright flowers. How changes in turgor pressure affect flower tissues and consequently their functioning during pollination have rarely been assessed. Leveraging techniques from biomechanics and modelling, Alvord et al. (2025) showcase a specialized pollination system, buzz pollination, and demonstrate that changes in turgor pressure critically change flower biomechanics and response to bee-like artificial vibrations.